Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 677: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views and the steps she plans to take to act upon the recommendation by the National Competitiveness Council in its 2007 annual report that the Government develop a proactive, consistent and supportive policy framework to attract more foreign students into the Irish higher education system as a means of generating foreign earnings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33326/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have taken note of the Recommendations of the National Competitiveness Council in relation to the development of a policy framework for attracting foreign students to Ireland. In this area, my Department established an interdepartmental group some time ago with the remit of considering the most effective way of promoting Ireland as a centre of educational excellence for international students and for the promotion of Irish education abroad. The group's Report on the Internationalisation of Education Services was published following approval by Government.

The Recommendations of the Report include the establishment, on a statutory basis, of a new body to be called 'Education Ireland' whose main objective will be to promote Ireland as a centre of excellence for international education. Preparations are well advanced to establish Education Ireland in the first instance as a company, with draft legislation also being prepared to establish Education Ireland on a statutory basis in the course of 2008.