Third-level fees: a political debate that ended with the status quo preserved - In their own words
Tues, Sept 24th 2002
"I am not there to penalise the middle classes, but I think the wealthy should be able to meet their own expenses" - the Minister for Education and Science confirming to The Irish Times that he was considering the re-introduction of third-level fees.
"I have to ask if people on my salary - and people who are on even higher salaries - should be getting the benefit of this . . . This has nothing to do with Exchequer savings . . . What I am talking about is making sure that the 350 million spent on student supports is paid out in such a way that those who deserve it actually get it; those who have never had the opportunity to go to third-level get that opportunity"- Mr Dempsey, in the same Irish Times interview.
"My officials are having a look at the whole student support system . . . There is no big pot of money out there to increase grants, therefore I may be in a position at the end of this process where I say the current system has not been effective in getting students from disadvantaged backgrounds into third- level and we need to spend the student supports more effectively. We are talking about doing this over the next two- or three-month period, because any decision we make will need to be in place well before the next academic year" - Mr Dempsey again.
Saturday, April 12th 2003
"All politicians like to make popular decisions, but there are times when governments have to make tough decisions" - the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, speaking about political responsibility in her leader's address to the Progressive Democrats' party conference.
"Some people say the Government should require only the well-off to pay fees. That sounds reasonable in principle. In practice, however, thresholds for payments and taxes have a habit of moving down" - PD Longford TD Ms Mae Sexton, addressing the same conference.
Wednesday, April 16th
"Access to education and the availability of a good education are essential for young people. We all share that view. I have no doubt that will be foremost in the mind of the Minister when he brings the proposals to the Cabinet shortly" - the Tánaiste, speaking in the Dáil.
Wednesday, May 14th
"For some of the people we are talking about, it will just mean that they will not be able to afford their second or third holiday. It isn't the case that they are going to be on the poverty line if they are charged" - Mr Dempsey explaining the effects of his proposal.
"There is nobody talking about bringing in fees for people on moderate or even on what most people would regard as high incomes . . . \ it does not make much sense that there are people who have incomes in excess of several hundred thousand euro who get free education and there are others who cannot get access to education" - the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, speaking in the Dáil.
Monday, May 19th
"The proposal I am reading about in the paper has never been put to me. It should have been put to me but it's fairly plain that I should not be reading about it in the papers" - the PD TD and Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, responding to an Irish Times report that students will be asked to pay college fees of 4,000-8,000 a year for degrees under plans being finalised by the Department of Education.
"We are talking about very comfortable people who can afford very exotic holidays a couple of times a year" - a Government source explaining to The Irish Times who exactly would pay fees under the plan.
"I believe the way you collect taxes from the rich is through the general taxation system. The party's position is against it. We made that clear at our party conference. There's no commitment in the Programme for Government, as you know, to introduce college fees" - the Tánaiste speaking in Brussels.
"I generally feel strongly about the things I have views on" - Ms Harney again.
Tuesday, May 20th
"If I see something wrong, or something that I believe should be corrected, even if it mightn't be a great thing to do politically or otherwise, I will address it" - Mr Dempsey, in an interview with the Westmeath Examiner.
"I'm absolutely convinced that this is a right approach, it is a necessary approach and I hope other people see it the same way I do . . . If we deal with politics on the basis of looking over our shoulder as to who might or might not support it, rather than what is right or wrong, then it is not my kind of politics" - the Minister again.
"I would be in favour of saying that people sitting their exams next month will not face fees" - Government Chief Whip Ms Mary Hanafin.
"It would have been better if we had the discussion internally before we start debating the matter in public. That's not good for the cohesion of the Government. It's not good for the issue itself and it probably leads to a lot of confusion among parents and among students and caused a lot of unnecessary fear and worry" - the Tánaiste, speaking in Brussels.
"In the past, we introduced property tax which became a bit of a problem. Even though it affected relatively few people, a lot of people became scared as a result of that and it was a tax that collected very little money. We have to make sure that we don't do that again in this area" - Ms Harney again.
"The abolition of tuition fees did not achieve the stated aim: assisting those from the lower socio-economic background." - the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, speaking in the Dáil.
"I am surprised if Minister Dempsey could not face down Jackie Healy-Rae in the last Dáil, that he thinks he can face down [Michael McDowell] in this one. One thing is clear: either Minister Dempsey or Minister McDowell is going to come out of this with zero credibility." - Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte.
Wednesday, May 21st
"There is a sizeable number who earn over €200,000 and they pay nothing at all for the education system. I do not think that that is right" - the Taoiseach, addressing the Dáil.
"He [Mr Dempsey\] will bring in a loan scheme, which will have the support of the Progressive Democrats . . . That loan scheme will put people on moderate incomes in hock." - Mr Rabbitte, resuming his attack on the proposal.
"Has the deputy no principles at all?" - the Minister's reply.
"The Minister posing as a socialist is a bit much. He will be on the labour soon, the way he is going." - Mr Rabbitte again.
"If you are disadvantaged, if you are a person living on the margins and if you are a person on welfare, the Labour Party and Fine Gael do not care two hells about you." - the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
"Can we as a society continue to justify the expenditure of millions of euro from within the finite resources available for student supports in order to meet the costs of free fees for the children of those in the highest income brackets when, at the same time, all the evidence tells us that those at the other end of the economic spectrum continue to be excluded from third-level education by virtue of amongst other factors, inadequate supports? You may be comfortable with that. I am not" -
Mr Dempsey, in the Seanad.
"It seems to me to be perfectly logical to assess a student support programme that costs 380 million last year. Of this, some 240 million was spent on so-called 'free fees'." - Mr Dempsey again.
Thursday, May 22nd
"The Taoiseach already indicated during Leaders' Questions in this House yesterday that the intention is to bring clarity to the matter raised before the Leaving Certificate beings" - the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, speaking in the Dáil.
"I do not think it is unreasonable for somebody of high income to pay a contribution to the education [of their children]. I do not think it unreasonable that I have to pay, and there are many people in the country earning far more than I, even though I consider myself well paid, for fees - and I gladly paid for my second daughter's education in private education" - the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, speaking to reporters at a function in Co Clare.
Sunday, May 25th
"I would never let my ego get in the way of a good result . . . I think it's a great day for the Government and a great day for the disadvantaged . . . I would be delighted to take 42 million defeats any day of the week." - Mr Dempsey announcing the climb-down on fees yesterday