USI notes the resignation of Minister Ruairí Quinn from his position as Minister for Education and Skills.

Minister Quinn served at a time of serious upheaval in government.  Students remember the pledge he made not to increase student fees before the last general election and rue his inability to keep to his promise.  However, we note that Minister Quinn was one of the very few ministers prepared to come to USI congress to defend his position, take questions and debate the reasons why.

Minister Quinn engaged with USI on a regular basis and initiated a constructive and frank relationship with the student movement.  We hope that his successor, whomever that should be, will retain a good level of communication and discourse with students and we look forward to the development of a Higher Education system recognised as a public good, affordable to all, with appropriate supports for students and the student voice at the centre of decision making.