Mr Feargal Quinn (Ind) was complimented for improving the George Mitchell (Scholarship Fund) Bill by having universities and other institutions of higher education in Northern Ireland included in its scope.
Mr Quinn had at an earlier stage of the debate complained that the exclusion of Northern institutions undermined the entire basis of Mr Mitchell's work for Ireland. The facilitator of the Belfast Agreement had succeeded in bridging the two traditions, and it would not be right to honour him by creating scholarships which deepened that divide. It was likely that many American students interested in researching conflict resolution might want to carry out their research in Northern Ireland.
The Bill establishes an Irish version of the Rhodes Scholarships which enable American students to attend Oxford University. Under its provisions students would follow a postgraduate course in Irish third-level institutions and would receive generous funding. The Government has decided to contribute £2 million as a first endowment to the scheme.
When the Bill reached report stage yesterday the Minister for Education, Mr Martin, announced that the Government had decided to amend the measure by including such higher centres of learning in the North as the Minister might with their consent and that of any other relevant competent authority specify. Mr Quinn's call had led to an improvement of the provision, he conceded.
Welcoming the change, Mr Quinn congratulated the Minister on his ability to respond so rapidly. In enacting legislation they must strive to avoid falling into an attitude of thinking that those living north of the Border were "someone else".
The Fine Gael Seanad leader, Mr Maurice Manning, said it was a better Bill because it now incorporated the inclusive spirit which Mr Mitchell so personified. He complimented Mr Quinn for spotting the lacuna in the legislation and for making an eloquent case for its rectification. One lesson, perhaps, was that they should be less reverential in listening to legal advice.
The leader of the House, Mr Donie Cassidy, said the amending of the Bill showed the importance of having a second chamber and demonstrated how carefully senators took their role in framing legislation.
The Bill was passed.