THE Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, was accused yesterday of causing a "fundamental shift" in relations between the universities and the State. Two of the most controversial sections of the Universities Bill were making their way through the Committee Stage in the Dail.

Sections 17 and 18 of the Bill allow the Minister to appoint a visitor to the universities to make an inquiry in the event of a breach of the laws and statutes applicable to them, and to dissolve university governing bodies as a result.

The Fianna Fail spokesman on education, Mr Micheal Martin, said the procedure represented a "control mechanism" which could be abused by future administrations if they found themselves in conflict with the universities.

"I honestly feel this section should be deleted in full and the State should not have this overseeing inspectorate role and should not have the right to go in and inspect governing bodies" said Mr Martin.

University College Galway, in particular had objected to the use of the visitor in this manner.

The Minister rejected Mr Martin's assertions, pointing out she was amending Section 17 so that the visitor had to be a serving or retired judge of High Court level or higher and that the visitor had to concur with any decision to dissolve a governing body.

Ms Breathnach said the universities were nearly 100 per cent dependent on the State for funding and some mechanism was required to protect that investment. "I just think where there is an investment of £228 million per year I shouldn't close off the option," she said.

The Minister also stressed that the procedure would only be invoked under "grave" circumstances, that Section 18 was being amended to reflect the gravity of the offences involved and that Government approval would be required for any dissolution.