The last time the House was delayed in the morning was when the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey, was Whip and the Government collapsed. Is the Taoiseach aware that thousands of students will march on Leinster House today because of cutbacks in third level allocations and facilities? The registration fee has increased by €80 to €750, the fees for junior and leaving certificate examinations have increased to €82 and €86, respectively, and there have been serious cutbacks in the level of facilities available to universities.
Does the Taoiseach not consider that job creation depends on innovation, patenting, design and research and development and that cutbacks in these areas are a blow to the future, particularly where young students are involved? Does he take into account the statement by the vice-president of the students' union in Trinity College that there is no point in attending a university with a substandard library? What does the Taoiseach propose to do about this situation given the outrage now felt in the third level sector?