Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

To clarify, the provisions in the Bill may only be used by institutions that award to doctorate level under the Irish quality framework. There is no way that an institution which operates abroad and is not awarding at that level under the Irish system would be given the designation of university. The Bill contains a range of important measures, including provisions regarding support grants for students in PLC colleges. There is more to these proposals than what is provided in respect of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The Bill is very restricted in terms of which institutions will be able to call themselves a university outside this country. That will only be possible where they offer qualifications at doctorate level in Ireland.