Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Sally-Anne Fisher from the senior leadership team in Trinity College and Zaid Al-Barghouthi and Ahlan Wa Sahlan from the Union of Students in Ireland. They are very welcome. It is an issue that impacts not just the institutions themselves but also the student population, as the Minister of State alluded to. As she is aware, I have three adult children myself, who are attending university. If we want to have the Nobel prize winners of the future, which we absolutely need for the economy and the development of our Republic, the Samuel Becketts and so on, we must enhance the student experience. That is by way of addressing this deficit and shortfall. We have the money to do it now. To quote a well-known economist and, of late, a Member of this House, it is a no-brainer. We really need to invest in the third level sector.

If possible, I might seek a meeting between the Minister and the Provost of Trinity to discuss the particular impact it is having on the college, which is in the top 100 university rankings in the world, despite all the challenges. That is a testament to the staff and the team there for all the pro bonoextra work they do, but they do need help. It would be useful to have a face-to-face meeting.