TCD softens opposition to Breathnach proposals

TRINITY College, Dublin and the Minister for Education are close to resolving their differences over Ms Breathnach's plans for university legislation, according to college sources.

Following recent meetings of the Trinity Fellows (elected scholars) and the college board, it seems likely Trinity will accept the proposal that at least one board seat be reserved for an outside representative.

In return, Ms Breathnach is expected to drop a controversial proposal that would give a Minister the power to dissolve the governing body for up to a year. The proposal has been vehemently opposed.

Trinity will seek a separate piece of legislation to take account of its special legal and constitutional position. The board last week indicated its willingness to accept change provided the college statutes remained intact and the charter was altered only with its consent.

On the issue of outside representatives, the college wants further discussions. However, if all other issues were agreed, Trinity would accept the proposal for one outsider seat. Ms Breathnach originally wanted 10 such seats.

Trinity has also moderated its objection to the ministerial power of inquiry into a college provided this is carried out by the college visitor.

Ms Breathnach's legislation is expected in May or June but the college wants time to discuss outstanding issues.

At a meeting of the College Historical Society, Ms Breathnach said she had "no desire" to run the universities, nor had the Government or the Department of Education. The colleges would be free to spend the 75 per cent of their budgets on pay as they wished, she said.

If the universities failed to reach agreement with the Higher Education Authority on the appropriate distribution of funds, it was proposed that a statement of their views on the matter would be published. This was transparency, Ms Breathnach said.

It was "extraordinary", said the Minister, that the most recent change in the governance of Trinity was in 1911. "Surely no Minister, provost, governing body, or concerned graduate can disagree that structures last reviewed at the turn of the 20th century do not now merit critical review as we head for the 21st century."

The TCD economist, Mr Sean Barrett, told the meeting that Trinity had nothing to gain from the Minister's proposals. He questioned the legal and constitutional basis for Ms Breathnach's actions and suggested that Trinity be left out of the proposed legislation.