Shane Ross (Independent)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for helping me on that point. As Senator Brian Hayes rightly said, this came out in a question and answer session after the Irish Management Institute conference. The Minister did not say it in his speech. He waffled in his speech at the conference in the same way as he did here but when he was asked questions by Olivia O'Leary he spouted it all out. The whole plan came out while we were insulted the previous night. If necessary, let us have Ministers come to the House to answer questions like they do in the Dáil. Let us hold them accountable to Parliament instead of having them come in here to insult us. In effect, that debate was a waste of time. The contributions from this side of the House were very good but it was a complete waste of time from that side of the House. It treated the House with total disdain.

Perhaps the Leader can assist in the other matter I wish to raise. We do not appear to have a very full timetable this week. There is a story in today's newspapers about higher education which Senator Henry rightly raised here some time ago but it has now gone further. It appears the Government has responded to the report of the OECD on higher education in a way which may be anti-university. That may not be the case but it sounds as if it has resonances of being anti-university. I do not mean just Dublin University, I mean all universities and institutes of technology.

I would like to have a full debate on what is being called an innovation fund for which universities would have to compete. This may be a very good idea but it would be a major culture shock for the universities of Ireland if they have to engage in such a process. It is no coincidence and I suppose it is motivated by the report which states that Irish universities are falling out of the top international league.

I do not know whether the solution is to set up a fund and announce that all universities will have to compete for it but this House could usefully debate the issue. The Minister for Education and Science should come to the House. She is a thoroughly conscientious Minister who is putting a great deal of work into this issue. She should come to the House for a question and answer session about university education. We will get a great deal more out of her than we did from the Minister for Transport last week.