No waters have been muddied regarding Fine Gael’s commitment to delivering a University of the South East in Waterford according to an adamant Enda Kenny.
Speaking at the conclusion of his parliamentary party’s think-in at Faithlegg, Deputy Kenny allayed fears expressed by Tramore Town Councillor Tom Raine concerning a dilution of Fine Gael’s long-stated position.
“I have to deal with the law as it currently applies,” said the Fine Gael leader on Thursday last. “And the law that currently applies is the 1997 Universities Act.”
Speaking to The Munster Express, Deputy Kenny explained: “You can’t produce a University out of thin air. You cannot produce a University out of an Institute of Technology just by saying so.
The law requires that you trigger a process whereby there is a national and international perspective on the validity of the case made.”
Describing the existing Act as inadequate since “it doesn’t set out what the criteria should be for a University”, Enda Kenny stressed that his party’s policy had in no way experienced any dilution.
“Fine Gael are committed to the creation of a University of the South East, we made this perfectly clear when we launched our policy a number of years ago and we stand by that.
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