Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Minister of State on taking this measure. It seems Juliet had it wrong when she asked, "What's in a name? ... a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." It is very important that the Royal College of Surgeons, RCSI, would be able to be designated as a university in Ireland, as it is elsewhere, as pointed out by Senator McDowell. The Royal College of Surgeons is very much a part of the history of this State, and it has the bullet holes to prove it, as we all know. It goes back 235 years. It will be the eighth university in this State. I commend all those involved in bringing this about. It reflects the complexity around the designation of universities when one considers that the National University of Ireland has many constituent colleges and colleges which are recognised as universities in themselves, including UCD and the National University of Ireland Galway, my alma mater. While it is part of the National University of Ireland, it perhaps can only really be understood if one has an understanding of the blessed trinity and the notion of three in one, except the NUI has more than three constituent colleges.