Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will speak very briefly. I can see where Senator Malcolm Byrne was coming from with respect to amendment No. 51, but I am a little concerned that an t-údarás may be silenced by a Minister, while the heads of higher education institutions may voice their views. I may be wrong, but that is my understanding. The Minister might clarify the position for me. Is it possible that the president of a university might have some negative comments to make about higher education policy, and is there a likelihood then, given the overarching role of an t-údarás, that the institution in question would be disciplined for speaking out against Government policy? Could the Minister please clear that up for me as I am a little confused in that regard.