Taoiseach and Labour leader in fees row

Updated: 21:36, Monday, 26 May 2003

The Taoiseach and the leader of the Labour Party have engaged in sharp exchanges in the row over third level fees.

Noel Dempsey Defended decision Noel Dempsey Defended decision
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6.01 News: Charlie Bird, Chief Correspondent, reports on the Taoiseach's defending of the Education Minister
6.01 News: Charlie Bird, Chief Correspondent, reports on the Taoiseach's defending of the Education Minister
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Morning Ireland: Dr Ted Fleming, Head of the Dept of Adult Education at NUI Maynooth, argues that access will not be affected by the Minister's proposals alone
Morning Ireland: Dr Ted Fleming, Head of the Dept of Adult Education at NUI Maynooth, argues that access will not be affected by the Minister's proposals alone

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The Taoiseach and the leader of the Labour Party have engaged in sharp exchanges in teh row over third level fees.

Mr Ahern claimed that Labour was moving to the right.

He also said the weekend decision to put money into third level access programmes instead of reintroducing fees was a good one.

Responding, the Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte said Mr Ahern was in no position to lecture the party about disadvantage.

McCreevy on third level package

Earlier, The Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy said that his colleague, Noel Dempsey, had got an attractive package in the deal worked out over the weekend.

Yesterday, the Education Minister announced a €42m package aimed at broadening access to Third Level institutions, and that proposals to introduce college fees had been dropped.

This afternoon, Mr McCreevy said that the Government could have handled the controversy over Third Level fees in a different way.

However, he said that the issue was now off the table for the lifetime of this government.

  • Morning Ireland: Dr Ted Fleming, Head of the Dept of Adult Education at NUI Maynooth, argues that access will not be affected by the Minister's proposals alone

    Morning Ireland: Dr Ted Fleming, Head of the Dept of Adult Education at NUI Maynooth, argues that access will not be affected by the Minister's proposals alone

  • Morning Ireland: Minister for Education Noel Dempsey and Labour leader Pat Rabbitte debate the issue

    Morning Ireland: Minister for Education Noel Dempsey and Labour leader Pat Rabbitte debate the issue

  • News At One: Dr Peadar Cremin, President of the Mary Immaculate teacher training college, discusses the government initiative

    News At One: Dr Peadar Cremin, President of the Mary Immaculate teacher training college, discusses the government initiative

  • News At One: Cliodhna Hannon, Trinity College Access Officer, discusses what else needs to be done to aid education in disadvantaged areas

    News At One: Cliodhna Hannon, Trinity College Access Officer, discusses what else needs to be done to aid education in disadvantaged areas

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