IN a speech which could spark moves to expel him from the party, Mr Shane Ross (FG) claimed that Fine Gael and the other Coalition parties had a consistent record of appointing "political hacks" to State boards and agencies.
The record showed that day after day all these parties appointed their friends and relations to such positions, Mr Ross said. Party political hacks were appointed.
Speaking in the second stage debate on the contentious Universities Bill, Mr Ross warned that he would vote against it next week if the proposed measure was not suitably amended.
Two university senators gave similar warnings.
The Minister for Education Ms Breathnach, said the Bill provided for the restructuring of the National University of Ireland and for revised governance structures, as well as for an interaction between the universities and central government and for accountability to society generally.
Mr Ross, formerly a Trinity College Dublin member, asked what was the need for political watchdogs answerable to the Minister on the boards of universities. Unless this issue was clarified satisfactorily by the Minister, in her reply to the debate, he would voted against the Bill.
Prof Joe Lee (Ind) demanded a specific commitment that the objects of a university should include the preservation - and support of academic freedom.
Mr David Norris (Ind) said he would be pressing vigorously at committee stage - if the Bill got that far - for the Dublin Institute of Technology to be recognised as a full university.
. Mr Sam McAughtry (Ind) said he was appalled at the heated exchanges over the Government's approach to tackling crime. Some time ago, he had been distressed by a poster campaign on the bail referendum, in which an attempt had been made to use the law and order issue for political purposes. He hoped fervently that a similar approach would not be taken in the general election campaign.