asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the grave student and staff unrest over the past few weeks, he will now abandon his proposal to have degrees at the NIHE, Limerick awarded by the NUI and revert to the original proposals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - NIHE Degrees.
5.
I have already made it clear that the sole source of degrees for students of the NIHE who successfully complete their degree-level courses is the NUI.
In view of the concern which the students have expressed, can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us if any further consultations are now planned with the students and staff of the institute to try to allay the real concern which they have, so that the common interests of the students and, indeed, of the nation can be served?
The position is that this matter was dealt with exhaustively for three hours in a debate which concluded last night. The Government's position in the matter has been made very clear and there is no purpose in discussing the matter further at this stage.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in course of that exhaustive treatment the Minister only devoted approximately ten minutes of the half hour available to him to give any views, and otherwise concentrated on quoting both himself and newspaper extracts? In view of the intervening developments since his original statement some months ago, does the Parliamentary Secretary not think that it calls for some further discussion and explanation over and above what the Minister offered to this House last night?
I am sure the Minister will undertake whatever consultations he deems necessary in the interests of all parties involved, including the students, but I do not think there is any purpose in my being drawn into any discussion of this matter here today.
We accept that the Parliamentary Secretary's presence is on behalf of his Minister. The questions here relate to very important issues and the Parliamentary Secretary should not shelter behind that excuse.
This is argumentative.