The president of Dublin City University has expressed alarm over the description of the new university legislation as "the Bill nobody wants".
Dr Daniel O'Hare said the legislation contained features that represented a major improvement in the statutory standing of DCU, the University of Limerick and the colleges of the NUI.
"We at DCU are quite optimistic that the Bill will be a significant step forward for [Irish education," said Dr O'Hare. "It will certainly be a long way from being a Bill that nobody wants," he said.
Meanwhile, the Union of Students in Ireland has praised the Minister for Education for introducing the Bill. USI president Mr Colman Byrne said although universities served the State well, they should not be [afraid to discuss ways of improving education.