Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that an institution (details supplied) does not exert influence on universities outside of its remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49033/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Irish universities are independent and autonomous statutory bodies established under the Universities Act, 1997, which while guaranteeing the principle of academic freedom, also requires detailed institutional level governance arrangements for the management, operation, policies and strategy of the relevant institution to be in place. The issue raised by the Deputy is therefore a matter, in the first instance, for the governing body of the institution as part of its responsibility to ensure that it is conducting its activities consistent with statutory requirements, institutional statutes and the Code of Governance for Irish Universities.  My Department will shortly be requesting the Higher Education Authority to ascertain from the relevant university that its Governing Body can confirm that all of these requirements continue to be satisfied in this particular case.