Cullen should resign if technology institute fails to get university status

IF Education Minister Mary Hanafin confirms that Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) will not be upgraded to university status, then Social and Family Affairs Minister Martin Cullen must demonstrate his support for Waterford by resigning from the cabinet.

As he has previously promised his full support for the upgrade, failure to resign would be a complete reversal and a betrayal by him of the people of the south-east region.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea showed that his cabinet position mattered most to him by not opposing Government inaction in the Shannon-Heathrow debacle. Is Minister Cullen now going to do the same and completely go against a key part of his campaign for re-election to the Dáil for Waterford last summer?

As Mr Cullen has stated on his website, the upgrade of WIT to university status would:

* Enhance the business potential and quality of life for the people of Waterford and the south-east.

* Make the region a more attractive place to work, to live and to invest, and

* That this need (to upgrade) is founded on strong economic, academic, social and regional policy arguments.

At this stage, Minister Cullen must make clear exactly what his position is on this issue. Nothing less than 100% support for the University of Waterford will do for the people of the city, county and region.

And if the cabinet is not willing to deliver on its election promise, then that 100% support can only be demonstrated to his constituency by resigning as a minister on policy grounds.

John Kennedy

19 Knocknashee

Goatstown

Dublin 14