Some former colleagues of the Leader and myself will once again stand outside the gates of Leinster House today seeking equality of pay in the education system. As everyone knows, we cannot fix the wrongs that led the country on a trail of destruction from 2008 until 2012 or thereabouts. The problem we have is that the salary available will not entice people to enter education. The cost of training has gone through the roof because the period of training has increased to two years and the State provides no assistance. In many of the English newspapers, we see advertisements enticing people to move to England, have their teacher training costs paid for and receive a salary that provides a reasonable living standard. We must do something in education because we are losing the best as the system bites. While I acknowledge the problem cannot be fixed overnight, a clear indication must be given to teachers that better times lie ahead. I ask the Leader to organise a debate on the issue.

On the matter of women's suffrage, as the brother of eight sisters, a husband and a father of one daughter and grandfather of one granddaughter, it is great that we will celebrate women's suffrage today. It is also great that we have seen some degree of equality. While I do not like to generalise, it is great that the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is a female and that women are making serious inroads into society. The one area of life in which they are not making inroads is politics. To make it in politics a woman must be better than the best. If we are discussing women's suffrage one hundred years after it was introduced, we should have a look around both Houses of the Oireachtas because we are not there yet. Unfortunately, I will not be present for the debate on women's suffrage as I must attend a committee meeting. We need to start at the top and work our way down, as has been done in the trade union movement where a number of general secretaries are now female. Unfortunately, the number is still not half enough.

Another problem I experienced in my previous role in the trade union movement is that we do not create an environment that makes it easy for women to enter trade union politics or politics in general. I recall women resigning from the national executive of my union because all meetings were held in Dublin and they had to get home to their children by a reasonable hour.

However, meetings of the executive often went on until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. Similarly, female Members of the Oireachtas have to return to work immediately after having a child. There is no maternity leave for politicians. We must start looking at how we can be more equal in terms of how our colleagues are treated. Grand statements will be made today but I would love to see some action.

I too welcome the clear and unanimous decision by the Supreme Court this morning which reversed the High Court decision relating to the right to life of the unborn. It is a landmark decision and will allow us to move forward to a May referendum without delay. The only constitutional right to life is that which the Supreme Court has identified: that contained in the eighth amendment. That was unanimously and clearly articulated by the Supreme Court. I urge all Members to accept the judgment in good faith and to move forward in a civilised and respectful manner, as has been the case for the most part to date. We must focus on ensuring that we set a date for the referendum. My sincere hope is for a constructive, factual and respectful national discussion on the issue and for the Irish people to finally have their say.

I agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Noone and urge the Leader to ensure this Chamber does everything required to ensure we do not miss the deadline of the referendum date. I very much welcome the decision made by the Supreme Court this morning.

I wish to raise the issue of a decision last Monday by the board of Trinity College Dublin to introduce a flat fee of €450 for supplemental exams, also known as repeat exams. The introduction of fees for supplemental exams was always going to cause some upset but I do not believe anyone could have expected the outrageous figure of €450. To put it into context, UCD charges €230 per exam, while UCC caps its charge at €245, regardless of how many exams a student resits. Some students already fail exams because of financial uncertainty and instability in their lives as they juggle long hours and part-time jobs. This is a cruel further pressure upon such students. The introduction of the charge will disproportionately affect the students already most at risk of dropping out for financial reasons. When one considers that Ireland has the second-highest third level fees in Europe and that students fork out more than €10,000 for accommodation during the academic year, it is clear this new financial cost will price more students out of an education.

The decision was made against the will of the students' union. In a preferendum held earlier this year, 80% of students voted to oppose fees for supplemental exams. Their voices have been ignored and they have been disrespected in the name of financial gain for the university. I understand the students' union is now considering strike action, boycotting services, protesting in front arch-----

Front square.

-----and potentially starving the college of revenue by having a sit-in in the library containing the Book of Kells. It has my full support. I urge it to take the strongest possible action to defend its members. Education is supposed to be a public good. This is a grossly unfair back-door charge. There should be a debate in the House on these unacceptable charges.