Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Before I address my question to the Leader, with the indulgence of the Chair, I would like to thank those people who worked with me while I was Whip for the Labour Party group. In particular, I thank the Leader, Senator Cummins, the Deputy Leader, Senator Bacik, the Whip, Senator Coghlan, and the staff of the Seanad Office for all their help, patience and courtesy. I am delighted we have a rotating Whip in the Labour Party group and wish Senator Hayden, the incoming Whip for the group, well.

The Minister for Education and Skills will be in the House next week and obviously there are many issues we would like to discuss with this busy Minister. I welcome the announcement of the reform of the junior certificate today and I suspect much of the Minister's time in the House will be taken up with that issue. However, I would like the Leader to ensure we have some time then or in the near future to discuss the events related to our third level institutions, with UCD and Trinity College Dublin falling down in the list of top universities. The criteria for selection to that list, includes teaching and research. The criterion of 30% citations, or the influence of research, is obviously very high. I wonder whether we are chasing something we cannot achieve. The size of universities in this country must make it difficult to reach that scale in comparison with other universities, particularly in the United States.

I have a particular concern for smaller universities and the prospects of technological universities. I have a concern regarding the Connacht Ulster alliance, including Sligo Institute of Technology, which were hoping to come together under the Hunt report. Now there is concern about this, particularly in light of the HEA's report last week. There are many issues at stake here with regard to the direction we take with third level institutions and how we compete in the world. I ask the Leader to ensure that if there is not sufficient time, since the Minister is busy and is engaging in significant reform and change, he will ensure this debate is held in the not too distant future if the junior certificate issue takes up the time next week.