Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The case has been extremely well made by Senators Alice-Mary Higgins and David Norris. There is a difficulty with the language being used. No one is suggesting it is the Minister of State's intention to exclude students from the academic council, but it is clearly possible. This simple amendment would make sure it was no longer possible. I ask my colleagues on the Fine Gael benches whether they really want the message to go out from this Chamber today that their party will reject an amendment that would do no more than ensure at least one student representative on an academic council. I do not believe any of them would object to this, yet, unless the Minister of State is willing to accommodate this simple amendment, that is the message they will be sending.

There is a great Neil Young song that includes the words "nothing is perfect in God's perfect plan". The Bill is not perfect. We have tried to work with the Minister of State today and will continue to try to do so, but if she seriously rejects the amendment, she will be sending a very depressing message not only to students across the country but also to this Chamber. We are just here to rubber-stamp the Bill if she is not willing to take on board even the most reasonable of amendments. This is the most reasonable of them. It is simply to ensure students would have at least one representative on an academic council. Surely to God we can agree on it.