David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----but in a compassionate way and in the appropriate way, which is through the criminal justice system.

The point I wanted to raise was actually something I raised yesterday, which is the situation in Waterford and Carlow in respect of the proposed merger of the institutes of technology and the issue of university status. When I asked the question yesterday, the Leader was not aware that the merger had collapsed. That is obviously unfortunate. We need to get all the parties back to the table again, in my view. I am a strong, enthusiastic supporter of a technological university. I believe it needs to a multi-campus one. I do not believe that politicians in opposition should in any way use this to attack the Government or attack the Minister. I am absolutely of the view that the Government parties are committed to making this happen. We now need to put in place a process that can deliver on this very important issue.

I imagine the Leader of the House would agree that this is a major issue for the people of the south east. We have campaigned for a long time to have this in the programme for Government and to have the Cabinet agree that it must happen but for it to unravel now for different reasons is entirely inappropriate. I ask the Leader to comment and, if he is in a position to do so, to update the House on the actions being taken by the Department to proceed with this issue.