MICHEAL Martin, Fianna Fail spokesman on education, proposed last week that an appeals procedure for students be considered for inclusion in the Universities Bill.

Speaking as the Bill continued its tortuous progress through the committee stage, Martin, supported by PD education spokeswoman Helen Keogh, suggested that the Minister consider an appeals system covering areas such as student examinations at the Bill's report stage. A number of universities already have an appeals system.

"I certainly would be slow to put into legislation your suggestion," Niamh Bhreathnach responded. She believed, she said, that the universities would view it as an unwarranted intrusion into their academic freedom. The Bill, she added, gives academic councils control of the academic affairs of their colleges.

However, Martin pointed out that the university authorities were not the only section of the college community affected and that "the university heads don't have a veto on it" - although given his criticisms of the degree of behind the scenes negotiations with the university heads prior to the committee stage his statement may just have been ironic.

"There are graduates out there, students out there, who have an input into this," he said. It was decided to consider the possibility of a legislative basis for student appeals at a later stage in the discussions.

USI education officer Malcolm Byrne says the union has proposed and supports requiring universities to introduce an appeals system for students. While a number of universities - most notably the NUI colleges - already have an appeals system, Byrne says they can be improved.