Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

We have an effective international education unit operating in the Department of Education and Skills which is constantly liaising with its partners internationally - I had an opportunity to visit a number of those partners recently - and concerns raised at those meetings are acted upon immediately. We have very strong links with the embassies based in Dublin and we liaise with the ambassador. Many embassies have appointed an education attaché who will come to Marlborough Street to discuss the quality of the education and the standard of care being afforded to international students. If issues are raised at these meetings, they are acted upon immediately. This new legislation will give us even more powers in that regard.