Ninth Level Ireland

“The president of the University of Limerick (UL) is urging the Department of Education to ban vaping across all Irish educational institutions. Dr Des Fitzgerald, a professor of molecular medicine and former chief academic officer for the Ireland East Hospital Group, said vaping is now ‘a real health risk and is being directly implicated in health crises and even deaths among users’ …” (more)

[Laura Lynott, Independent, 23 September]

“A university president says vaping should be banned on all college campuses. Dr Des Fitzgerald, President of University of Limerick, wants the government to implement a ban due to newly discovered health risks associated with vaping. UL is the only college in Ireland that has already stopped the use of e-cigarettes …” (more)

[Irish Examiner, 22 September]

“There have been calls to increase Government funding to third-level institutions after the latest figures show UL’s position in the Times Higher Education rankings has remained static. In a post on Twitter after the latest rankings were published, University of Limerick President Dr. Des Fitzgerald said, ‘A decade ago, Ireland had two universities in the top 100, but no more …'” (more)

[Mike Finnerty, Limerick Leader, 17 September]

“A ‘malevolent concoction’ of technology, intolerance and populism is poisoning debate and emboldening dark and destructive forces, president of the University of Limerick Des Fitzgerald has said. Speaking at a conferring ceremony on Sunday, he said long-held views on what constitutes normal institutional and political behaviour are being tested in a way unimaginable a few years ago …” (more)

[Colm Keena, Irish Times, 25 August]

“The President of the University of Limerick, Dr Des Fitzgerald has welcomed the Governing Authority’s revision of a disciplinary statute for staff of the university. The move follows what the president has described as ‘unacceptable controversies in this university which caused significant damage to the reputation of the institution’ …” (more)

[Rebecca Laffan, Limerick Leader, 23 August]

“Four years after the Limerick Leader first reported that two members of the UL finance department had been suspended after refusing the offer of a settlement package that included a confidentiality agreement, the employees known as Persons B and C have yet to have their situations resolved …” (more)

[Limerick Leader, 23 August]

“Members of the public have reacted positively to the first visual sign of activity at University of Limerick’s new city centre campus site. A giant purple banner, emblazoned with the message ‘Watch this space’ and the UL logo, was erected at the former Dunnes Stores at Honan’s Quay this Thursday afternoon …” (more)

[Fintan Walsh, Limerick Leader, 13 June]

“The University of Limerick has confirmed the purchase of a former Dunnes Stores shopping centre in the city, which will form a key part in a €50 million campus development by the college. At a dinner in the five-star Adare Manor resort organised by the University of Limerick Foundation on Friday evening, the college’s president, Dr Des Fitzgerald, confirmed that contracts had been formally signed with Dunnes to acquire the 5,500sq m former shopping centre …” (more)

[Ciarán Hancock, Irish Times, 24 May]

“There has been universal approval to the news the vacant Dunnes Stores site on Sarsfield Street is to be developed into a state-of-the art, multi-storey campus by the University of Limerick. It will says the university, become the home of a ‘very different educational experience’ in the heart of the city …” (more)

[Jess Casey and Fintan Walsh, Limerick Leader, 11 April]

“A vacant Limerick city centre site is to be bought by the University of Limerick and developed into a city campus. The university will purchase the site, formerly occupied by Dunnes Stores, on Sarsfield Bridge for €8 milllion. Dr Des Fitzgerald, UL President, said …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 5 April]

“UL president Des Fitzgerald has warned the quality of the bus service between Limerick and the college is a ‘major impediment’ to a new city centre campus. As revealed by the Leader, University of Limerick (UL) is finalising plans to open a new campus in the heart of the city, with sources suggesting it will be in the heart of the Project Opera site …” (more)

[Limerick Leader, 22 February]

“Fears that thousands of students at the University of Limerick possibly received ‘understated’ degrees may need to be independently examined, members of the Dáil Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) believe …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Limerick Leader, 2 February]

“The president of the University of Limerick has been formally asked to write to the Garda Commissioner to ask if the findings of a report that was highly critical of the university should be investigated for fraud. Last Thursday, Dr Des Fitzgerald, appeared before the Dáil Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) over a number of long-running controversies related to the HR and finance departments at the university …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Limerick Leader, 28 January]

“Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail): In this session we will examine the Comptroller and Auditor General’s special report No 103 on the handling of remuneration for certain senior staff in the University of Limerick and Institute of Technology Sligo. We have also requested an update on the implementation of Dr Thorn’s Independent Review of Certain Matters and Allegations Relating to the University of Limerick …” (more)

[Public Accounts Committee, 24 January]

“A full review of University of Limerick student records system could cost up to €20 million, TDs were told at the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) this Thursday. The Limerick Leader revealed earlier today that concerns have been raised over whether potentially thousands of students were given incorrect exam records over many years …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Limerick Leader, 24 January]

“The University of Limerick (UL) says a subsidiary company will be responsible for the refund of costs arising from pension benefits worth a total of €1.2m for two of its staff, who were added to UL’s State-funded pension scheme even though they were not employed by the university …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 25 January]

“The president of University of Limerick (UL) has played down concerns that hundreds of students may have received incorrect exam results over a period of many years. The Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday heard of serious concerns over the reliability of UL’s student records system …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 24 January]

“Secretary General of the Department of Education has told the Public Accounts Committee that it is examining ways to recoup money from higher education institutions where breaches of governance have been identified. Seán Ó Foghlú was appearing before the committee following a special report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) published last November …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 24 January]

“The president of the University of Limerick, Dr Des Fitzgerald, is expected to face questions from TDs this Thursday about concerns over whether potentially thousands of students were given incorrect exam records over many years …” (more)

[Alan English and Jess Casey, Limerick Leader, 24 January]

“On Thursday, Jan 24, the Public Accounts Committee will consider how certain third-level educational institutions have managed remuneration of senior staff and overseen the sale of a campus technology spinoff …” (more)

[Houses of the Oireachtas, 23 January]