Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators for their very interesting contributions on the Fottrell report, which I will draw to the attention of the Minister. In response to a specific question by Senator McHugh, implementation of the Fottrell report up to 2013 is estimated to cost €200 million. Clearly the State is making a very substantial investment in this area and it is important for us to get a good return. I agree with the Senators who made many other suggestions as to how the quality and character of our medical education could be improved.

The investments and changes in medical education and training outlined by the Minister should result in an enhanced student opportunity, a more streamlined quality medical education and stronger oversight ultimately leading to improvements in patient care. However, whatever decisions we make in this area must reflect the changing face of general practitioner services. The introduction of the strategic innovation fund, seeking to address third level educational reform, should ensure that Ireland continues to develop as a knowledge economy in a very competitive global environment. The fund enables the higher educational system to achieve a new level of performance that will create a platform for effective return on the wider investments to be made until 2013, including investment under the ambitious forthcoming national research plan.

I was very interested in the contributions of Senators Brian Hayes and Maurice Hayes. In the important ongoing discussions between the rainbow parties, I hope that Senator Brian Hayes will raise his views about the famine of funds for third level education. Our third level institutions are unable to attract funds from abroad because of the fundamentally foolish decision taken by the rainbow Government to abolish third level fees.