Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join the Senator in that hope, genuinely, and I have no doubt that the individual will be successful. The Senator has highlighted the constraints and while I understand and completely empathise with the point he makes, it is important for me to address the wider context and to say why those constraints are there. While it may be maddeningly frustrating and appear to be, quite frankly, wrong in this individual case, the Government has to approach this from the perspective of every single case and not just those cases involving people with disabilities. Not every case is the same and there are reasons the Minister does not intervene directly. We have to bear that in mind and the importance of that. When I spoke about a deputation or meeting, I was referring to one involving the Senator as a representative and the individual concerned with the Minister, as opposed to bringing an individual higher education institution into that process. The Senator mentioned that the NCAD might be prepared to meet him. That would be a parallel process and would be a good idea.

As I said, I will communicate with the Minister. It is a tricky case that is very individual and very specific. Ultimately, all of us want to work to get the right resolution here and I am more than happy to play my small part in that.