Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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22. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to make a statement on the curtailment and punishment of student protests in Trinity College Dublin. [23133/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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It is an important part of our democracy that everyone has the right and the freedom to protest in a peaceful manner and in keeping with the law of the land.

This right of course extends to students, staff and researchers of higher education institutions, who are part of academic communities and also operate within the context of their institution's own rules and procedures.

Critically, academic freedom, another pillar of our open, democratic society, is also enshrined and protected in Irish law.

The higher education institutions, as autonomous bodies, are responsible for the day-to-day management and operational affairs of their institutions.

This includes their responsibility to adhere to their own policies and rules such as their institution's Dignity and Respect policy, which aims to support a respectful work and study environment free from bullying and harassment, where staff, students and other community members are treated with dignity and respect.

I would take the general view that where such protests take place within institutions, that space and time is given to all parties to seek to resolve matters.

In that context I would note that the recent protest on the Trinity College Dublin campus ended on 8 May following successful talks between the university’s senior management and protesters.