David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In this legislation, the Minister defers to herself the power to grant authorisation. That is a wide-sweeping power for somebody like the Minister, who, as I know, has had the benefit of a Trinity education. However, there may be people who do have that who will succeed her as Minister for Education and Skills. There could be corrupt politicians coming in.

We have a situation with English language schools, about half a dozen of which have collapsed in recent times. It does seem to me that it is a very extensive power to give the Minister. A future Minister could have no university background or any connection with education. He or she could be stuck in by the Taoiseach of the day in order to meet geographical considerations, rather than based on his or her suitability for the job. This happens in politics all the time. It could be a case of granting favours to a friend.

I would be much happier if some body such as the Higher Education Authority could at least be taken into consultation in this process of awarding the right to describe something that is not a university in the country where it is trading as a university abroad. It is a very broad power to give a Minister. I would be quite happy with the current Minister but I cannot predict who all her successors will be in future.