Calling on students to speak up on the issue, he said, “What we need is adequate funding from the Department of Education rather than the introduction of a two tier system of education in which wealth dictates the education you receive”.

UL Students’ Union executives have consistently defended free fees since their introduction in 1995 on the grounds that it widens access to university education.

Mr von Prondzynski insists that university fees need to be in place by the start of the 2009/10 academic-year.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe is expected to announce an 18-month review of the education sector in September, paying particular attention to funding.

Vikings reach national final Current national American football champions the UL Vikings hammered the Belfast Trojans last Sunday to qualify for their third national final in a row.

Playing the Belfast side at the UL Bowl, the Limerick side ran out 42-8 winners to send them to the Shamrock Bowl, the national championship decider, to be held at Cork Institute of Technology on August 10.

Their opposition in the final will be the Dublin Rebels, five-times winners of the tournament.