I agree with Senator Sean D. Barrett in his concerns about the future of third level education. As a recent graduate of University College Dublin, UCD, I am well aware of what is happening on the front line and in particular of the pressure on academic staff to deliver with less and less resources. We tend to talk in terms of falling unemployment figures and improved fiscal outlooks and so forth, as though the war on austerity was over but it is not over. We are living with the results of austerity, particularly in the third level sector. There is sometimes a lack of sympathy for that sector in the way that there is sympathy for the needs of children. There is no doubt, however, that the way our universities fare is important for inward investment and for how the wider world perceives this country.

I was very disappointed to see all Irish universities, except the National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG, effectively fall down the rankings, and continue to fall as they have done for the past few years. That includes Trinity College Dublin. I noticed, however, that the chief executive officer of the Higher Education Authority made a few positive points including, for example, that the student contribution of €250 should remain with the universities and not be effectively removed by the State’s putting less money into third level education. That should be considered. Will the Deputy Leader ask the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, to consider that as an immediate response to the crisis in third level education? I would like the report on the funding of third level education to be expedited and put on the table as a matter of urgency. I do not believe the Irish university system can continue to take the hits it has taken over recent years and not slip further in the international rankings.

I agree entirely with Senators Sean D. Barrett and Aideen Hayden.

There is little doubt that we must invest. It has been interesting to hear the Government state for a number of years that one reason Ireland has had successful foreign direct investment is because of our high standard of education. Since the onset of austerity, as we call it, resources for universities have been reduced and this would account for the disastrous showings on the rankings. Although I heard Mr. Tom Boland express the opinion this morning that these rankings are not necessarily the only measurements one can have, their importance is recognised around the world and, therefore, we suffer a great deal from anything that would damage them. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has stated we should not assume that austerity is over but should make sure we get it right. As a nation, we still are spending more than we are earning and no family, no home and nobody can continue that way. Consequently, we must consider carefully how we spend and how we earn. While the figures are very good, on some of which Senator Michael Mullins touched, we have a long way to go before we relax.

If I may take one further case, one district in our island is out of control, namely, north Louth and south Armagh. I refer to the amount of smuggling, including the smuggling of cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol, and diesel laundering that is going on there, which is so out of control that it appears to me as though there is a Mafia up there, running it on both sides of the Border. To a large extent, Members know how this must be solved. Something similar was experienced in Dublin some years ago and it was not until the death of Veronica Guerin that suddenly the Government and the Garda decided to do something about it and to move on it. The death of Adrian Donohoe in Lordship, County Louth, should have been the point, as was the death of Veronica Guerin, when it was decided that something must be done about this. Apparently, it was known who killed Veronica Guerin but the State had difficulty in bringing him to court. Similarly, there is strong knowledge of who were the culprits in the case of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The Garda and the Minister must move on this as it is something with which we cannot live any longer.