Greens accused of abandoning principle on fees

THE Green Party has been accused of “abandoning another core principle” after signalling it would support the reintroduction of college fees.

Communications Minister Eamon Ryan last night said he would be “comfortable” with a fees system provided it did not deter people from poor backgrounds from going to college.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe brought a paper to cabinet last week outlining a number of different models by which contributions could be obtained from third-level students towards the cost of their education.