Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Once again, we have received mixed messages from the Green Party. Green Party Members and Ministers in the Dáil are supporting the Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, and in so doing contravening the rule of law, yet overnight the Deputy Leader, Senator Boyle, said the Green Party had been bounced into it and that he had no confidence in the Minister. Is he being sincere or is he just playing a game to keep the Green Party on the field? I agree that the Minister is not fit for public office and will be supporting the motion my party will be bringing forward to the Leader formally today. Does the Leader agree that the Minister has undermined the rule of law? Did the Government not support an electoral abuse yesterday? Is the Government fit for office?

I call for a debate on the sustainability of third level education. Third level education is costing €2 billion from a total intake of €34 billion. All of the universities are in debt. Last week the Leader kindly consented to arrange a debate on CAO applications and places. I asked the Minister at the time how, given the surge in the number of CAO applications, third level education could continue to be funded. His response was that the Government wanted the universities and colleges to be creative with their finances. They are broke. From reading between the lines of what the Minister said to me, it is clear fees are on the way back. Once again, the Green Party has been fooled. The Minister needs to discuss in the House——