asked the Minister for Education when the Bill to establish independent universities will be circulated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Independent Universities.
21.
I am not in a position to indicate precisely when a Bill or Bills may be circulated. Priority for the moment has been given to the Bill to establish the National Council for Educational Awards.
Will the Minister clarify what he said earlier at Question Time? First he said that the Bill would be introduced in the present session and then he said it would be introduced in the lifetime of the present Dáil. Which period has he in mind? If it is in the lifetime of the present Dáil there might be an election for a new Taoiseach and we would hate to see the Minister removed from us and somebody else taking over that job.
The Deputy knows quite well that the people indicated that they want a four- or five-year period for this Government. It will be during that period.
Would the Minister not agree that the delay in producing this legislation, now that the NCEA Bill has been published for some time, will cause concern in higher education circles? For example, when will he accede to a request by the Irish Federation of University Teachers to meet him? He has not acceded to that request since he came into office but he has seen many other people.
That is a separate question.