asked the Minister for Education if he proposes to set up any machinery to examine the situation whereby the Governing Body of UCD refused to renew the contracts of two lecturers in the school of architecture; and whether he proposes to approve, as a general principle, the right of the Governing Body to refuse to renew contracts without stating the reasons to the people involved.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - UCD Architectural Lecturers.
73.
A petition for the appointment of a board of visitors to consider this matter has been addressed to the Government by the clerk of convocation of the National University of Ireland. The question of the action to be taken in relation to this petition is at present under consideration and I do not feel that it would be appropriate for me to make any further comment in regard to the matter at this stage.
I do not wish to press the Minister on this specific case because he has said it is still going through the normal processes, but I would ask the Minister if he does not feel that this case highlights the sense of insecurity which temporary or non-statutory staffs in the National University of Ireland feel at the moment? Secondly, as the Higher Education Authority has been in existence since June of last year, would he make sure that in any legislation which the Higher Education Authority drafts the security of tenure of the present non-statutory staff in the NUI will be something to which they will pay very close attention indeed?
As I have already said, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I cannot discuss this matter any further. I do not accept that the Deputy's supplementaries arise out of this particular question.
This is something for the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to decide but the issue of the insecurity of non-statutory staff in the NUI is one which has been brought to the notice of this House time and again, not least by the interventions of the present Mr. Justice Kenny. The Minister should show his acceptance of responsibility in this regard by demonstrating that he is aware of the sense of insecurity which permeates non-statutory staff in the NUI.
If the Minister feels he cannot make any further statement at the moment the Chair has no way of compelling the Minister to alter that view.
Surely the second half of the question which the Minister has not answered is relevant to what Deputy Thornley has just said, and there is no reason why the Minister should not answer it.
I gave my reason in my original reply.
The point Deputy Tully is making is that the taxpayer now largely finances universities in this country, through the good offices of the Minister for Education. Does the Minister not accept, as paymaster for university education in this country, that the process by which contracts are renewed or discontinued arbitrarily in universities is one which presses directly on his office?
The Deputy will appreciate that the HEA are giving full consideration to the matters to which he refers.