Former Minister for Education Niamh Bhreathnach, responsible for the abolition of fees in 1996, has urged Batt O'Keeffe not to take the "retrograde step" of re-introducing third level fees.

Speaking about O'Keeffe's announcement that fees were back on the agenda, Bhreathnach also suggested that the heads of universities be "challenged at their game". There were other ways to bridge the funding gap currently in existence in almost all of Ireland's seven universities, she said.

"Ever since fees were abolished all the university heads could say was 'this won't work, we need fees back'. They are interested only in their funds, not who they hit or how. The heads of universities have their problems and I'm not trying to diminish that, but on a European level, undergraduate education is considered a right.

"In their grand plan for this knowledge based Ireland, the government has completely stepped off the path. When they introduced fees into England the numbers of those attending college fell. To really get a knowledge based society, we need a level of 32% graduates. This is the most important thing – keeping the numbers up in college."

As Labour Minister for Education, Bhreathnach abolished fees after an extensive study of how Ireland's third level sector was funded. "I looked at the way the third level was funded extensively before I abolished fees. I found the simplest way to open the gates to all was to remove funding for all. I would be very disappointed if fees were re-introduced at this stage."

Bhreathnach points towards Ireland's economic dip and parlous financial state as reason for the re-surfacing of the fees debate, and says a "lack of broadmindedness" is pushing leaders into enforcing third-level cuts. "Now things are bad we are turning around and saying 'we're going to look into this issue now for funding, because we haven't the ability to look on a wider basis'."

But the former minister does commend Batt O'Keeffe's decision to open a debate on the issue even if he "picked the wrong week" to do so. She advised leaving certificate students to continue with any course plans despite any "possible uncertainty".