Education Minister Noel Dempsey has revealed that he has not yet made a final decision about his plans to re-introduce third-level fees.
Mr Dempsey said he has not yet received a report from a review group he appointed to examine the issue.
The minister admitted he would face strong opposition from all sectors of Irish society if he attempted to reintroduce fees, which were abolished in the mid-1990s in an effort to make third-level education available to the poor and disadvantaged.