Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I echo the concern expressed by Senator Conway-Walsh about GDP figures. It would be useful to debate them more comprehensively in the House.

Earlier this week, I raised my concern about the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, CETA, between the EU and Canada. The Minister responding recognised that there is a need for further debate and suggested that the jobs, enterprise and innovation committee might be one place where such a debate might occur. I ask the Leader to consider arranging to hold a debate on the matter in the Seanad because the scope of the agreement goes far beyond the question of jobs and innovation. It would be useful to debate the agreement in this House prior to the proposed signing of a provisional application on 18 October. The agreement is a pressing issue and, therefore, it is a matter for a pressing debate. I would appreciate if we could have a debate during the first week of our return in the autumn.

As a university Senator, I am extremely concerned - as is another of the university Senators, Senator Ruane - about the developments in Turkey in response to the recent coup. These developments are giving rise to serious human rights concerns. In Turkey, 21,000 teachers have had their licences revoked, 15,200 staff at the department of education have lost their employment and been suspended and 1,500 deans of universities have also had their resignations demanded. The Turkish state has placed a huge scale of pressure on the education system at every level and on the individuals who work in the system. There are now media reports that academic staff have been forbidden from international travel. Moreover, those who are travelling internationally at present were given the deadline of 8.30 a.m. today to return to their posts and present themselves for work. That means some of the academic staff only have a matter of several hours' notice. We are not clear what the consequence will be for those who did not get back to Turkey at 8.30 a.m. This is a very concerning issue. I urge that over the summer that the Government makes sure that human rights concerns are placed at the centre of their engagement in the ongoing situation in Turkey. I ask that the Minister for Education and Skills engage with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on this issue. I also ask that the Government promotes a review of the EU-Turkey refugee deal in light of the highly unstable situation and worrying trends in that country.

I will not address my final issue because Senator Craughwell will comprehensively address it. I refer to the issue of the Dublin Institute of Technology, DIT, unfairly reneging on its funding agreement with the students' union there. Senator Lynn Ruane and I call on DIT to address the issue and ensure that interim funding is found.