Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

The Minister mentioned links to the DIT and Senators Ormonde and Henry both outlined their links to the institute. I possibly have the greatest number of links to the DIT because I am a former employee. I worked as a clerical officer in the Bolton Street campus; it was my first permanent job there. I took a career break and having pursued the part-time diploma in legal studies, I went on to train as a solicitor. As the Minister is aware, my father worked as admissions officer in the DIT and before that, he was a lecturer in physics in the Kevin Street campus. Every member of my family has studied in the DIT. I am the only one who did not study at the DIT at undergraduate level. My mother went back as a mature student to the Mountjoy Square campus.

I am naturally biased towards the DIT and the institute of technology sector. I felt like jumping out of my seat when Senator Henry mentioned the idea of the DIT becoming a university and possibly being incorporated into Trinity College, Dublin.