Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Taoiseach as teacht isteach sa Teach inniu. I am grateful the Taoiseach has come to the House.

One issue in regard to the referendum on the abolition of the Seanad rankles with me, namely, the position of the universities in society. Unintentionally perhaps, during the referendum the idea was put about that graduates of our main public universities were somehow part of an elite. I would like to think that higher education should be an aspiration for all. As we go through with the Taoiseach's commitment to extend the vote, as enunciated in the referendum in 1979, as a first step in the reform process, the idea should be put out that we value our universities and institutions of higher education and see third level education as an aspiration for all of our citizens and not just for an elite. It is something that should be an aspiration for everybody.

We need to look at universities and their position, both in Ireland and throughout the world, and to place even greater emphasis on them as central drivers of the future development of the country and the economy.