Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

D'fhoilsigh an Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí tuairisc an-tábhachtach an tseachtain seo caite. Last week, the Committee of Public Accounts issued a very important report on the funding of third-level institutions, an issue I have been raising in this House for a number of years. The issue and the report deserve further scrutiny, particularly the issue of some of the subsidiaries operated by some third-level institutions. It has come to my attention that Trinity College Dublin has a subsidiary called Trinity Online Services. A number of serious issues have been raised with me regarding the operation of that company. When one checks it on Google, one finds that it comes up as a Trinity College entity but whenever there are any issues with the company, Trinity College washes its hands of it even though the board of directors is fully owned and the directors of the company are senior Trinity College staff.

The allegations relate to some very serious issues. There are questions of staff being poached from educational rivals and material appearing on the website that is similar to material on other educational websites. Serious HR issues have been raised about the company. From the material I have seen, the person who raised those issues has been practically ostracised by that company while Trinity College seems to be taking a very hands-off approach to any of these HR issues and does not seem to want to engage whatsoever. In many cases, particularly this one, these companies operate under charitable status so there are serious questions about governance, oversight and responsibility in companies like this and others operating under third-level institutions. When we come back in September we should, in the context of a debate on the report by the Committee of Public Accounts, look at the operation of subsidiary companies under third-level institutions in this country because it is not good enough that they can cherry pick all the good parts and benefits of having such a company but not take on responsibilities relating to workers and other issues that have been raised with us. I ask the Leader to raise it with the Minister for Education and Skills and to arranged for a debate on this when we return in the autumn.