Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I have always found him to be very helpful and cordial. It was on a point of principle that I raised the following issue on the Order of Business today. The Bill was published last Thursday and there was a clear commitment given by the Government Chief Whip, both in the Lower House and this House, that there would be at least two weeks between the publishing of a Bill, Second Stage and the various Stages. Therefore, it is regrettable that we have rushed into debating this legislation this afternoon which is an important point to make.
In this House it is either a feast or a famine. I mean we have waited ad nauseamfor legislation for many weeks and months and then, all of a sudden, in the past three or four weeks and coming up to the recess, there has been an abundance of legislation with people, Ministers and the Government trying to push through legislation. We could have taken Second Stage next week. When I got my schedule of business last Thursday evening or Friday morning, to the best of my knowledge the Bill was not included so there was an amended version.
I want to say the following as a point of protest. I laud the Minister for what he is trying to do and my party supports the Bill, on principle. In Government we brought forward an international education strategy. Therefore, it would be rather ridiculous for us to oppose something that we had planned when we were in government. I shall not say a whole lot on the Bill or go over what the Minister has outlined, most of which I agree with. However, I would like him to give an assurance that allowing certain colleges to describe themselves internationally as universities will not undermine the standing of Irish universities. If he could reassure me on that issue it would address one of the greatest worries I have about this legislation.
I am not the spokesperson for education in this House but I am taking the topic on behalf of my colleague. The legislation would have received a more fulsome debate, on this side of the House in particular, if we had been given a bit more notice. However, I do not want to be petty. I have made my play and raised the most important issue that concerns me and my party. I shall conclude and hope that we will have further discussion on the other Stages of the Bill.