Ninth Level Ireland

“The first ever woman president of an Irish university in the 400-plus years of higher education has been appointed at University of Limerick. Professor Kerstin Mey has been named as interim president of the university for the next 18 months. She will replace outgoing president Dr Des Fitzgerald, who announced his intention to retire in May …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 9 July]

“The President of the University of Limerick, Dr Des Fitzgerald has come under fire from some quarters for citing the impact of Covid-19 on his ability to serve the university, as the reason for stepping down from his post, just three years into his 10-year term …” (more)

[Aine Fitzgerald, Limerick Leader, 6 June]

“Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan has urged the University of Limerick (UL) to ‘get their finger’ out over the refunding of rents to students. It comes after it emerged that Education Minister Joe McHugh took it upon himself to contact the college’s chancellor, Mary Harney to discuss the matter …” (more)

[Nick Rabbitts, Limerick Leader, 21 May]

“The University of Limerick (UL) is coming under increasing pressure to refund rent paid by students who vacated campus accommodation due to the coronavirus. Education Minister Joe McHugh has waded into the row, contacting UL Chancellor Mary Harney to discuss the matter …” (more)

[Kevin O’Neill, Irish Examiner, 14 May]

“Management at University of Limerick (UL) is facing an academic revolt after 50 professors signed a letter calling for the suspension of restructuring at the college, which they said risks making it academically ‘not fit for purpose’. The university, which is getting ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary, has published a plan to develop a new campus in the heart of Limerick city. It is aiming to cater for an additional 4,000 mostly postgraduate or international students …” (more)

[Colin Gleeson, Irish Times, 27 November]

“More than 300 staff jobs are to be created at University of Limerick (UL) as part of an ambitious five-year investment worth hundreds of millions of euro. At the launch of ‘UL@50’, UL President Dr Des Fitzgerald, along with former Tánaiste and UL Chancellor Mary Harney, jointly revealed plans to increase UL’s student population by 4,000 to 20,000 students per annum, and raise staff numbers by approximately 330 to 1,930 …” (more)

[David Raleigh, Irish Examiner, 1 November]

“Two whistleblowers from the University of Limerick’s finance department have called on Mary Harney, the UL chancellor and former Tánaiste, to intervene in a dispute which has now dragged on for more than three years. The two women have also released the text of an apology made to them by UL in March …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Limerick Leader, 27 July]

“Former tánaiste Mary Harney has been appointed as chancellor of the University of Limerick. Ms Harney, who retired from politics in 2011 and is now director of a number of private companies in the pharmaceutical, technology and finance sectors, will take up office as chancellor immediately …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 9 January]

“The University of Limerick has announced that former Tánaiste Mary Harney has been appointed chancellor and chairperson of its governing authority. The former minister replaces former Supreme Court judge John Murray in the honorary position and was a unanimous appointment …” (more)

[Limerick Leader, 9 January]

“Minister for Health Mary Harney has said the Government has no plans to revisit the Croke Park agreement on public service pay and reform and that any savings to be made in the health budget would have to come from non-core pay and greater staff flexibility …” (more)

[Irish Times, 20 October]

“Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney T.D., and Minister for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation, Dara Calleary T.D., have welcomed the announcement today of a partnership agreement between Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Health Research Board (HRB), with the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation based in the UK …” (more)

[HT: Shane O’Mara]
[SFI, 29 September]

“Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe has received qualified support from his PD Cabinet colleague, Mary Harney, for reopening the debate on third-level fees, but his predecessor Mary Hanafin poured cold water on the proposal.” (more)

[Stephen Collins and Barry Roche, Irish Times, 12 August]