Sir, - I write concerning the report of the Universities Bill 1996. For over a year the Minister for Education has sought to abolish the autonomy of Trinity College, Dublin. I regret that she now has government support for a Bill to secure that goal.
Legislation which imposes the State's model of government on an autonomous body raises major constitutional and legal issues. Legislation to force government nominees on to the board of an autonomous college ends a 404 year independence, for no good reason. Pluralism is now so low in the priorities of this Government that it cannot tolerate even one autonomous university in the state.
The concerns of Opposition members of the Seanad during last November's debate on the autonomy of Trinity College were fully justified. It is a matter of particular regret that the Government has chosen to end the harmonious relationship between TCD and the State, established over forty years ago by Mr de Valera and Provost McConnell. - Yours, etc.,
Department of Economics,
Trinity College, Dublin 2.