Sir, - Malcolm Byrne's letter on The Universities Bill (March 7th) aims its darts at the wrong target, although he is certainly right in asserting the importance of the students in the running of Dublin University. The original Bill would have reduced student representation in comparison with what it is at the moment, and Dr Barrett has himself fought strongly for enhanced student representation.
The body of Fellows as such is an ineffectual body, and it is the College administration that is responsible for the dimunition of students' rights. Moreover, the Fellows are elected, and the selection committee includes non-Fellows.
On a not entirely unrelated matter, I wholeheartedly support Niall Salmon's suggestion, at the bottom of the same letters page, that There is an Isle would be a suitable Rugby anthem for Ireland. The recent performance of Shannon (not to mention Young Munster, the winner of the First All-Ireland Club Championship, and Garryowen) have entitled it to become so. The only proviso is that it is agreed on all sides. - Mise le meas.
FTCD (1993), Arts Building, Trinity College, Dublin.