Fine Gael Cork South Central Senator, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed the decision by UCC management to delay the introduction of the €65 conferring fee, saying that ‘while the delay is welcome, outright abolition of the fee is necessary’.
“This conferring fee is a penal tax on students and their families who have worked hard throughout their college lives.
“Conferring ceremonies are a celebration of university life, a celebration of the value that a student has brought to the university and as such should not be taxed. Families are struggling with escalating registration fees as it is and this additional fee will penalise those who are already struggling and will result in many not attending their own graduation ceremony. The principle of this fee is wrong and sends out the wrong message.”
Senator Buttimer was on hand to aid the students’ campaign against the UCC conferring fee led by UCC Young Fine Gael. He praised the campaign saying, ‘the fact that the University’s management has committed to this deferral is testament to the hard work of the UCC Young Fine Gael society, the Students Union and all the students who signed the petition and voiced their concerns.”