Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The section deals with the increased student contribution. I am conscious of what the Minister has said about having to make difficult choices. As we said on Second Stage, the bottom line remains the same probably for all sections of the House but what divides us politically is how that is achieved.

I do not want to be facetious but when the Minister was the Opposition finance spokesman I recall him asking the question, "What have you got against the third child?". I am sure the Minister recalls it. It was humorous, and accurate, at the time because a cut in child benefit for the third child was being contemplated. In terms of making choices to increase the third level student contribution, colleagues such as Deputy Ruairí Quinn and others signed pledges that this was a red line issue. We have these increases now and over a period of four years there will be a significant increase. It is difficult to reconcile that and issues such as maternity benefit taxation with the decision not to opt for those who are in a better position to sustain a small hit, such as the 3% proposed by the Labour Party as well as Members on this side of the House. It is difficult to reconcile some of these issues, particularly for students when the cost of keeping a student from, say, Sligo in UCD or another college in Dublin is approximately ¤9,000 a year in terms of rent, food and other costs. I regret that other options could not have been taken in that regard and it is for that reason we oppose the section.