Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the Minister's statement on WIT, I accept that this piece of legislation can be used only by one institution, the RCSI. WIT is far from having 40% international students, and no other institution in the country comes anywhere near the figure. In some respects it could be seen as a slap in the face for the institutes of technology, which have been involved in a torturous process over a very long period of time to meet the criteria for designation as technological universities, if that is to happen.

At the same time, the Minister is introducing legislation overnight which allows another institution to adopt the title of university straight away, without meeting any of those criteria, and with very different governance procedures from those one would expect from any university or institute of technology. That is the point I was trying to make.

I accept that we are in the middle of a global war for talent. Increasingly, this country will be competing not on the basis of corporation tax but on the talent of our own people and those whom we can attract to Ireland to study, undertake research and work here. For that reason, internationalising our education system is a positive thing towards which we should all work. I question, however, whether this approach is the correct one. I do not believe it is.