Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Creativity is his watchword and now more than ever it needs to be released in our people.

I am concerned about the main story in The Irish Times today about a cap on student numbers proposed for third level. That is a serious proposal and the Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, must tread carefully before he goes down this road. Approximately 400,000 of our people are out of work and if third level education was not an option for them that figure would be far greater. If the Minister was to proceed on this issue it would drive points upwards and put our students under further pressure. It is probable also that more private colleges would emerge. It is time the Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, grasped this nettle and examined a funding mechanism that is equitable and fair but I do not agree with a cap on student numbers.

I, too, refer to the importance of passing on the European Central Bank rate cuts. Home owners and families are under incredible pressure in terms of debt and the last thing we want is the banks in this jurisdiction holding on to the rate cut. It must be passed on.

The leader of the Opposition asked what the Government is doing with regard to the Keane report. The Government is serious about the implementation of the Keane report-----