Tánaiste insists fees won't return

Tánaiste Mary Harney has insisted there will be no reintroduction of third level fees in the lifetime of the Government.

She said she was opposed to the recommendation by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, which has said Ireland's education system requires more funding.

The Tánaiste said: “Parents have made plans on the basis that will not be fees for their children. At the time when there were fees we used to have various tax incentives so that people could put money aside for their children’s third level education. They have all gone.”

“I think it would be unfair on the parents of Ireland and the students of Ireland to reintroduce fees.”