James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science her views on whether University College Dublin has the right to hold examinations for evening students during the daytime, when this discriminates against students who cannot get leave from employment to sit same, and who are refused the option of an alternative time, therefore failing end of year examinations; if the college has the right to interfere with the employment terms of its part-time students, particularly at a time of recession and high unemployment, nor is it conducive to the principle of life-long education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16560/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Universities are autonomous academically independent institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act, 1997. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to the day to day management or academic affairs of a university and the decision of any university on when and how to conduct its examinations is a matter for that university.