TRINITY College, Dublin and the Minister for Education are close to agreement on legislation which would allow outsiders to sit on the board of the college for the first time.
However, TCD has indicated to the Minister's officials that it is unable to meet the gender balance requirement of 40 per cent women demanded by Ms Breathnach. It says there are too few qualified women available for appointment to the board and no guarantee that, if nominated, they would be elected to fill seats.
The college branch of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has expressed disappointment at the provost's decision to seek a derogation from the gender balance requirement.
At present, TCD is legally owned by a "body corporate consisting of the provost, fellows and scholars of the college. Under a private Bill to be published during the summer, this definition would be extended to include board members, according to a college spokesman.
The revised composition of the board has yet to be finalised, but is expected to include two representatives from business nominated by the provost, and one ministerial nominee, who will be appointed after "consultation" with the provost. No outsider has sat on the board of TCD through out its 404 year history.
Other proposals by the Minister, such as the power to dissolve a board, and to limit the colleges' freedom to borrow money, are still being discussed between the universities and the Department.
Earlier proposals by Ms Breathnach for up to 10 outsiders on the board were strongly resisted by Trinity.
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