David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Just to add to what Deputy MacSharry has said in regard to the gap in the HEA's powers, that is precisely my understanding of the why the previous CEO of the authority resigned. We lost the head of the HEA because of the authority's lack of powers and its inability to do the work that we want it to do. This has an impact on our work. Apart from the Waterford issue, for which we may be able to get an inspectorate appointed, we must have a say in the wider issue because it will have an ongoing impact on our work. We have shone a spotlight on the institutes of technology and universities and have shown up on awful lot of issues. How many have we had appear before us? Indeed, more are due to appear. An awful lot of them are dependent on the reports to which Deputy Catherine Murphy referred. It is a key issue for us and whether it is in a periodic report or whether we do a separate, stand alone letter to the Minister, we must stress that this needs urgent attention.