33. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to make a statement on student protests and higher education institutions and their financial ties and investments in Israeli companies. [23134/24]

Within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018, higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ireland are autonomous bodies.As such, institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own internal affairs, including their engagements with different companies and institutions.

As Minister, I cannot intervene in this matter. However, I note that the leadership in our higher education institutions are engaging with their student bodies to manage this situation in a constructive manner.