The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called on all political parties to include a commitment to maintain free third-level education in their general election manifestos.
Students gathered outside Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street, yesterday to demonstrate against the educational hierarchy they say would be created by the reintroduction of third-level fees.
"Education is a right and not a privilege - it's enshrined in our Constitution," said USI president Colm Hamrogue. "If we introduce fees we'll be going backwards, not forward."
Mr Hamrogue said that while many politicians have declared their support for no fees in the run-up to the general election, their promises need to be put in writing to have any real significance.
"It's an election year and so they'll say, 'yeah, we need to do this for you, x, y, and z'," he said. "It's the smile and the handshake approach, and it's not good enough anymore."
The USI is pushing for politicians to make free education a priority for the length of their term if elected.
"If you believe in this as you say you do, put it in your manifesto," Mr Hamrogue said. "We need a firm commitment for the next five years."
While third-level fees were abolished more than a decade ago, chatter about reinstating them has emerged periodically since then.
Some politicians and others have suggested that government-funded education puts an unfair burden on lower-income residents, who are forced to contribute to the education of well-to-do students.
But Mr Hamrogue said fees would lock out students who would otherwise be unable to continue their education.
"It would totally isolate people from lower socio-economic backgrounds," he said.
"If every political party is committed to keeping this economy and society strong and to continue developing, then we want every party to commit to free fees."