Is it the intention of the Government to reinstate the Technological Universities Bill 2015 at the Stage that it was before the election took place because it is a hugely important issue for many institutes of technology, which need certainty and clarity to proceed with the mergers or processes in which some of them are involved? I met the president of Waterford IT last week and he was adamant the institute needs certainty and clarity. There is confusion as to what is contained in the programme for Government in regard to these processes. Will the Bill be reinstated at the Stage it was at before the election.

Mine is the same issue. We had got the Technological Universities Bill to Report Stage here in this House before the general election and it is imperative that it moves as quickly as possible. For example, the Tánaiste will be aware from her own area that the Dublin consortium needs the legislation to move forward. If there are proposed changes, because, as Deputy Cullinane stated, there is confusion, will that delay the legislation? Getting clarity on this is important to the regions because these proposed technological universities will be engine drivers in terms of the development of a number of regions in the country.

I thank the Deputies. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan will be familiar with this legislation. Of course, she will be aware that there were objections within the House regarding certain aspects of the Bill when she was trying to steer it through, and it reached Report Stage. What the Minister intends to do now, before taking the decision that was asked, is to meet the stakeholders to have further discussions in regard to it to decide what is the best way forward and to have further discussions within the Oireachtas as well. The Minister is actively considering that at present.

That will definitely cause delay, which is of concern.

I call Deputy Troy.

That is not acceptable. I ask that the Deputies would be consulted before outside bodies on this.

That is crucial.

Can we have order, please?

That is what I said.

One would have imagined the Labour Party might have consulted them when it was in a position to influence the universities Bill.

Deputy Troy was against it. The Deputy wants to destroy the concept of the university of the south. We have it in writing.

And Deputy Troy was not on the committee where we had extensive consultation.

Could the Deputies restrain themselves?

Deputy Troy never turned up at one committee meeting.

Not one meeting.

I ask Deputy Troy not to be provocative.