Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

My colleagues, Senators Higgins and Nash, referred to the issue regarding DIT students' union. As a result of the row that has developed, the students' union is running out of cash. This puts at risk the jobs of 20 people. Three times the students' union has had an agreement with the institution, which, on each occasion, has rowed back on it. This simply cannot be allowed to happen today. Will the Deputy Leader - it is a pleasure to address her on her first time sitting in that seat - make contact on behalf of the House and ask DIT to at least put in place an interim arrangement to ensure funding until a final agreement can be reached? Senator Nash and his colleagues have written to the institute and received a reply. There will be a meeting at some stage but the situation is simply not acceptable. This is an attempt by an institution to try to use the pressure of funding to manage a union. When one tries to manage any union, as far I am concerned, it is repugnant to the entire system. It must be independent and have in place its own auditing systems. The students' union at DIT is quite happy to do so. This is Big Brother trying to control things.

Following a Commencement debate, we had an agreement with the former Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, on the registration of physical therapists and physiotherapists. This is an extremely serious issue. After completing a course over a couple of weekends, individuals can stick a sign outside their door and tell the world they are physical therapists, whereas chartered physiotherapists must undergo extensive training. There was an agreement in place as to how registered physical therapists and physical therapy students could upgrade to full physiotherapy, and this was to be provided for in legislation. I understand that this will be rowed back on, which will be to the detriment of the health system. Will the Deputy Leader take this to the current Minister, Deputy Harris, and ask him to look into it as a matter of urgency?