Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

He had expertise but he did not have the commitment or the people skills. I am worried that students will be selected solely on the basis of their academic performance because many of them do not have organic connectivity with the world around them. It would worry me greatly that the scholarships would be given to academic high achievers because that is not enough. When the original programme was set up, George Mitchell said:

Wherever you go in life, you will be part of society, be it a neighbourhood, be it a community, be it a state or our great nation but you must be active in that society. Do something in and with your life.

The scholarship is about more than academic achievement. Academic achievement will not result in understanding what public service should be all about. Our money should be spent on US students who will provide public service. What will they do after completing their year of study in Ireland? When they return, what will they do with their lifestyles? I want to ensure our money is used for public service, creating links between Ireland and the US in our education institutions and improving our relationship through the courses that can be provided in both jurisdictions for students.

While I welcome the concept of the scholarship and we must honour George Mitchell's contribution, the fund should copperfasten education links between Ireland and the US which will result in a commitment to public service and leadership by both countries. That is what I want the scholarship to be about. I want our money over the next period to be used to ensure the programme has long-term viability. I worry about this and I want the Minister to ensure the body running the programme, whether it is the US-Ireland Alliance or not, will utilise its postgraduate programmes to provide a commitment to public service and leadership in both countries and to strengthen the bond between the two countries.