Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support the comments of other Senators. Having listened to the debate very carefully on Second and Committee Stages, we remain unconvinced of the merits of allowing an institution such as the RCSI which, it appears, has no trouble in attracting international students to apply for places, to qualify. If it looks, walks and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. This should be called the RCSI Bill.

As I mentioned, the only institution which will qualify under this Bill is the RCSI and it is disingenuous, to say the least, that the Government will attempt to present the Bill in a way which would make the average reader think that any institution could avail of it. If the RCSI wishes to identify as a university the correct thing for it to do would be to, as was mentioned, go through the appropriate channels and procedures in order for that to happen, as other educational institutions in Ireland have to do and are in the process of doing. Otherwise, there is a sense of duplicity to the whole affair. It is not fair. We share the concerns expressed by other Senators, in particular those of Senator Power, about what would happen if students arrived in Ireland and realised they were not attending a university in the traditional sense of the word.

Senator Craughwell mentioned the issue of TTIP to me and what would happen if we awarded a licence which was then revoked. Could a body go to a court of arbitration and be awarded compensation for profits lost? It is an important concern. Had our amendments been allowed, I am sure Senator Craughwell would have raised these issues. They are important considerations which need to be addressed.