Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, to the House and congratulate him on a personal level on his elevation to the role. He comes to the position with a very fine background and I wish him every success.

This is a very important Bill. I wish to declare my vested interest up front as a former director of adult education. I am a huge advocate of continuing further and higher education. This Bill is not about creating a Department or a Ministry for Ministers. I ask that Sinn Féin stop that rhetoric, please. This Bill is a monumental milestone in our educational development. To be honest, I was a small bit sceptical when I heard this being floated prior to the agreement on the programme for Government. As a former Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, I was a very big advocate of the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. On reading the plans however, and seeing the custodians of the ministerial offices I am genuinely very reassured. This is akin to the introduction of primary education in the 19th century and second level in the 20th century. Taking on board the remarks of Senators Ruane, Craughwell, Cassells, Byrne and Hoey, we as a nation must take further and higher education to the 21st century level. That can be done through what we are doing today in this House.

I am very happy to endorse the remarks of Senator Craughwell about the former Minister of State, Ms Mary Mitchell O'Connor. She was a very good Minister of State at the Department and was at Cabinet also. The Munster Technological University is very important for Cork and for the south generally. It heralded a new chapter for third level education.

I was smiling as my friend, Senator Cassells, spoke about the Cassells report. I would hate to have a political row with my coalition partners but we did have a lost decade because of the mismanagement of our country by a certain political party, which I will not name right now. That has to be said as well. That did cause a delay in the enhanced funding of many different sectors.