SOME 30 students camped outside Leinster House last night to protest against the reintroduction of third-level fees.
The members of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) expect to be joined by hundreds of students from around the country today when a rally gets under way at 1pm.
Today is the deadline set by Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe for Cabinet members to submit their views on the reintroduction of fees issue.
Speakers at today’s demonstration will include Labour councillor Niamh Bhreathnach, who was the minister for education in 1993 when college fees were abolished.
The president of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations, Sophia Blair, will also speak at the event.
USI president Peter Mannion said the protests reinforced the message that the union would fight tirelessly against any reintroduction of fees, including a deferred-loan system or graduate tax.
He said the deferred-loan systems for students in Australia and New Zealand had been described as sexist and a taxation on education.
“This type of student loan system hits graduates at a tender time in their lives, when they are prevented from buying property, starting families and even purchasing cars,” he said.
USI vice-president and campaigns officer Dan O’Neill said third-level fees were “a stealth tax on education at a time when we should be encouraging people to up-skill”.
