Caught red-handed

RUAIRI QUINN’S pre-election promise came back to haunt him as he admitted a hike in college charges was “under consideration” while thousands of students marched in opposition.

Just nine months after he signed a pledge outside Trinity College not to re-introduce fees, increase registration charges or cut grants, busloads of students travelled to Dublin to urge him to keep his word.

Shortly before they arrived outside Leinster House, Mr Quinn told the Dáil that the Government “control neither the chequebook nor the policy in relation to a range of such public expenditures”.

Asked if he intended to fulfil the pledge made four days before the general election, he said: “These matters are still under consideration. Budget decisions have yet to be finalised.”

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) president, Gary Redmond, who was present when Mr Quinn posed in the above photo, said the commitment signed by Mr Quinn when he was in opposition was a “cynical ploy to get our votes”.

He said the USI had registered 15,000 students to vote in the election and “not only those students but their families, friends and parents — their votes were swayed by this as well”.

Mr Quinn argued he did not know at the time what he now knows about the public finances “but I’m not using that as an excuse”.

Mr Redmond said that Mr Quinn was aware of the situation before the election and that his party insisted its proposals had been costed.

Mr Redmond led a protest of between 12,000 and 15,000 people from Dublin’s Parnell Square to Government Buildings at 4.30pm yesterday.

Students and parents chanted: “Ruairi Quinn, keep your promise, Eamon Gilmore keep your promise, Enda Kenny keep your promise” and “No ifs, no buts, no education cuts”.

They waved placards and beat drums as Mr Redmond took to a stage outside the Taoiseach’s offices.

“We will not let you destroy our country,” he said. “We will fight tooth and nail.”

The blame game got under way in the Dáil earlier when the Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore, refused to rule out hikes in the €2,000 third-level registration charge or a return of fees.

The Labour leader blamed Fianna Fáil for committing to fees when it signed the memorandum of understanding with the bailout troika last year.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the deal had “allegedly been renegotiated twice” by the Government.

Mr Martin said Mr Quinn had “brazenly” signed the pledge before the election and it was “an act of deep cynicism” that Labour was reneging on its promise to reverse a €500 increase in the student contribution charge.

He urged Mr Gilmore to tell the protesters “openly and honestly” what the Government intended to do.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said an increase will ensure that third level is “not an option for thousands of young people”.

Mr Gilmore noted that in the North, where Sinn Féin is in government, Queen’s University charges students €3,837.

A report by the Higher Education Authority on third-level funding is being examined by Mr Quinn and he said he will publish it as soon as possible.