David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

All of that said, I am not sure how much experience the Minister has in higher education apart from being a student. Perhaps he has that experience.

The joint committee wrote:

It is widely recognised that legislative reform will be of limited value unless it is accompanied by a sustainable funding model. The HEA, as part of its core remit, must retain a key role of advising the Minister on the level of public funding required to enable HEIs to fulfil their responsibilities under the legislation and their performance goals agreed with the HEA.

This is crucial. Without funding, nothing will get done. No matter what different vantage points we assume, we all want to improve education.

Finally, in conclusion, at last and at length, the Irish people have had a love of education since the earliest and darkest days of our history. At a time when it was forbidden for Roman Catholics to attend school, there were hedge schools. During the Dark Ages, we were the beacon of intellectual light for the whole of the Continent.