Sean Barrett (Independent)

They are not necessary.

With regard to previously established universities, the courses are up and running. If somebody says to my good friend, Professor Brendan Kennelly, that the quality board does not think he is good at poetry, he will say, "So what? Everybody else thinks I am good." The lecturing staff I know have to turn downs shoals of international invitations to give lectures; therefore, if somebody on the QQAI board thinks they are not good lecturers, they will be in a decided minority because international bodies invite them to speak all the time. The board is an exercise that has got out of control and is now feverishly searching around for something to do to justify its existence. It is doing things that have been done splendidly up to now and there is no need for it. If it was necessary to amalgamate HETAC and FETAC, I bow to the Minister of State's superior knowledge. However, I find the addition of universities a waste of public money and it adds nothing but cost to education.