Sean Barrett (Independent)

One of his constituents in Balbriggan defeated England. That was an achievement.

Regarding Senator Bacik's comments, universities and the points mechanism comprise the subject of a statement today that has been covered widely by the media, certainly the broadcast media. The statement was made by seven people who all happen to be men. I am a member of a university governing body, but this topic has never been discussed. The Oireachtas should be aware that the tendency of these seven people is to rush out statements without consulting anyone. Under the Universities Act, universities are collegiate and not managerial bodies.

The person who set up the points system, the late provost of TCD, Professor Bill Watts, pointed out in his book that it is independent, not subject to influence, autonomous and self-financing. Given the possibility of influence, any alternative system must be viewed askance. I am surprised that, yet again, the heads of universities rushed out statements without discussing the alternatives with their constituents. Regarding tomorrow's conference, there should be a health warning to the effect that this is what seven people decided, not the rest of us in a collegiate community.

In pursuit of a 72% pay rise, the university heads boasted on 5 January 2007 that they were no longer educators but corporate chief executives. The views on who is in college might actually reflect those of us who have the honour and privilege to teach them. I regret the heads should issue statements without drawing attention to the fact that their combined wisdom, or lack of it, is that of just seven people.