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Ylenia Morselli

Students march against reintroduction of fees

Tens of thousands of students marched through the streets of the capital today – protesting against the possible reintroduction of third level fees or cutting of maintenance grants.

TENS OF THOUSANDS of students took to the streets of the capital today to protests against the possible reintroduction of third level fees or cutting of maintenance grants.

An estimated 20,000 students from across the country gathered shortly after midday in Parnell Square before marching towards Government buildings, chanting: “No ifs, no buts, no education cuts”. Nearly 200 buses carried students from college campuses across Ireland to participate in the march.

Maintenance support and grants for postgraduate students are in danger of being dropped from next year – in the hopes of saving the State about €50 million annually.

In a statement to TheJournal.ie, the president of the Union of Student in Ireland Gary Redmond hit out at Labour – recalling the party’s pre-election pledge not to introduce third level fees if elected: “With over 200,000 students in higher education, plus the votes of their families and friends, I think it is highly likely that Labour owes its place in Government to those crucial thousands of votes that switched from Fine Gael to Labour on the basis of that pledge,” he said.

“Claiming, in a post election environment, that the situation is dramatically different from what they had been told is simply taking the Irish people for fools,” he added.

Redmond outlined the importance of higher education for Ireland’s future prospects, warning against making “short-sighted decisions that  may have long-term negative ramifications”.

“There are many tough decisions to be taken over the coming weeks but by choosing to invest in education, we will be able to foster a knowledge based economy and take advantage of every opportunity in the future,” he said.

See: today’s protests in photos>

Video uploaded by ITSLIGOSU via YouTube

However, differing views on the question of student fees are surfacing – writing in TheJournal.ie today Ian Power, a former deputy president of the University College Cork students’ union, called for an end to the “ridiculous carousel” of students resist any new hikes in fees alongside the government regularly increasing the student ‘contribution charge’.

While condemning the raising of registration fees as a way of charging tuition fees “by back door”, Power argued that the current situation was not sustainable: ”Most student representatives acknowledge the current system is unsustainable and many would prefer a student loans system or a graduate tax,” he said.

Power called on the government to put in place a “robust and fully resourced support network for students by providing student loans and maintenance grants so each young person can support themselves through their education”.

Earlier today, a group of about 50 students stage a brief sit-down protests outside Fine Gael’s headquarters on Mount Street, but were subsequently moved on.

A camp-out is planned outside the Department of Education tonight.

Column: Time to end this ridiculous student fees stalemate>

In pics: Third-level students march in free fees protest>

Read: Thousands of students expected to march against fees>

Read: Students brand government ‘liars’ over tuition fee promises >

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38 Comments
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    Mute Tom Red
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    Nov 1st 2014, 8:43 AM

    Heard about this story through the grapevine yesterday……

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    Mute Jennie
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    Nov 1st 2014, 8:56 AM

    Song number 2 won’t pay for me….

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Nov 1st 2014, 12:41 PM

    Neither will play for me. Does this mean they’re the same?

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    Mute Rocky Jones
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    Nov 1st 2014, 9:20 AM

    Might help if you could play them?

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    Mute Ollie Ryan
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    Nov 1st 2014, 9:28 AM

    ‘This video is not available’

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    Mute 3monkey
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    Nov 1st 2014, 9:37 AM

    Ditto

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    Mute Ciarán Behan
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    Nov 1st 2014, 9:07 AM

    Song two broke

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    Mute johngahan
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    Nov 1st 2014, 8:51 AM

    Robbin’ Thicko.

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    Mute Stan Stynes
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    Nov 1st 2014, 8:42 AM

    Where’s the option for they don’t sound alike, because they don’t sound alike?

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    Mute Elaine Brennan
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    Nov 1st 2014, 10:27 AM

    Ian dempsey played blurred lines a few weeks ago. ..the very last thing I ever want to hear again is the song finishing and Ian continuing with ‘I know you want it..’ puke!

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    Mute Brian Mulligan
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    Nov 1st 2014, 10:44 AM

    Ian has recently taken to singing the last few lines of another song in an Irish /Caribbean accent “all about da bass, da bass” Makes me want to eat my own face!

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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Nov 1st 2014, 8:55 AM

    Reminds me of the great Morecambe and Wise sketch when playing for Andre Previn – and he tells Eric that he’s playing the wrong notes – ‘i’m playing the right notes – but not necessarily in the right order’.

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    Mute Leopold Dedalus
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    Nov 1st 2014, 9:40 AM

    Another rip off, if you look hard enough you’ll probably find a lot of modern songs do this. I remember people used to say Kid Rock was putting his own twist on Sweet Home Alabama with that summer song he had, turned out he’d taken the whole thing from another song called Werewolves of London. In his case I think he had permission but he just keeps it quiet so people think he wrote it himself. A lot of these so-called musicians’ only talent is being marketable. It’s even more obvious now the only reason Pharrell Williams was brought in for Blurred Lines was exposure, not for his musical ability because they already had the bones of the song and anyone could turn Gaye’s into Thicke’s with the software that’s available now. It’s a soulless industry now.

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    Mute Charlie Mountney
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    Nov 1st 2014, 10:03 AM

    Does there come a point where modern pop simply runs out of notes to play an starts to consume itself?

    Anyhow, never mind all that. To my ears, pop music a la Spin South West sounds bloody awful. If young people were listening to stuff I liked that would be more of a concern. C’mon da Biffy an all that.

    Anyone notice how much Dylan’s “With God on our Side” sounds like “The Patriot Game” by our very own Dominic Behan?
    There’s a true scandal.

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    Mute Jennie
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    Nov 1st 2014, 8:56 AM

    Play *

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    Mute Hugh Cavanagh
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    Nov 1st 2014, 1:38 PM

    This non playback situation is happening regularly on the Journal. Why don’t you check what you’re posting guys as its very annoying and amateurish.

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    Mute Jennie
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    Nov 1st 2014, 9:42 AM

    Video playback restricted on certain sites….?

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