Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The Senator is not being fair. I outlined what the Department is doing, which is in accordance with what was laid down in legislation. The other comments about the OECD are fair. I accept that they do not sound encouraging, but they are used as background and tell us of the parameters and of the other view. I fully understand the local view about university status, but the Government is proceeding in accordance with the legislation passed by the Oireachtas.