Gavan Reilly's Portfolio writings, ramblings, mumblings

Dunne’s darker day

As Bernard Dunne loses his world boxing crown, Gavan Reilly contemplates the poetic charm of Irish sporting life [Read more →]

Sports Centre increases revenue despite funding cut

The management of the UCD Sports Centre have reported an increase in operating revenue for the financial year ending 30th September, despite a fall in the subsidy paid to it by the University authorities to fund its activities. [Read more →]

WebWatch

with Gavan Reilly [Read more →]

The Lisbon Treaty in three hours, or, How Not to Read Laws

I tried to write a colour piece for the next issue reading the entirety of the consolidated treaties on European Union, as amended by the Lisbon Treaty.

I failed, in an abject pile of misery, but hereby post my attempt, as a warning to those who may heed it.

As another noted European federalist, Otto van Bismarck, once said: “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.” [Read more →]

The Silent Debate

Gordon Brown can no longer resist calls for a Leaders’ Debate in advance of the UK General Election, writes Gavan Reilly. [Read more →]

SU apologise to Green TD after mix-up

UCD STUDENTS’ UNION (SU) were forced to issue an apology to Deputy Mary White, Green Party TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, after contributing to a newspaper advert wrongfully claiming the TD to be in favour of third level tuition fees.

The full-page advertisement, which appeared in the 17th August edition of The Irish Times, listed the contact details of each TD alongside their stated position on fees. Deputy White was incorrectly quoted as being in favour of a means-tested system of fees for college education.
The advertisement was compiled in partnership with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and other SUs around the country, and was timed to coincide with the Round One of this year’s CAO offers.

UCDSU then began a media offensive against the TD, claiming her given position to be a direct U-turn on her earlier policy, and contravening that of the Green Party. SU President, Gary Redmond, told The Irish Independent he believed Fianna Fáil to be “corrupting the once-principled Greens”.

Redmond later explained that the confusion arose when a UCDSU representative, while researching the advertisement, called Leinster House seeking to speak to the Deputy’s office and was mistakenly connected to the office of Senator Mary White of Fianna Fáil, an outspoken advocate for means-tested tuition fees. According to SU reports, Leinster House staff repeated this error on four different occasions.

Deputy White, who is the Green Party Deputy Leader, said she wanted “to re-iterate my view, which I have always held, that I share the view of my Green Party parliamentary colleagues that there should be no re-introduction to fees. I have always been opposed to them and remain so. The confusion arose because the USI [on whose behalf UCDSU were acting] contacted the other Mary White, asked for her views, and published them thinking that they were mine.”

The UCDSU Press Office told The University Observer that Deputy White “failed to respond to four letters – two from UCD Students’ Union, one from DIT Students’ Union, one from TCD Students’ Union – and so a call was put in to her Leinster House office to gauge her stance over the phone. The Leinster House switchboard put the call through to Senator Mary White, of Fianna Fáil, and her views were recorded in the full-page Irish Times ad.”

He went on to say that “UCD Students’ Union spoke with Mary White TD and clarified the issue and the Green Party reflected this through a press release on their website.” He concluded by saying the SU hoped “to rely on her in the fight against fees”.

USI Deputy President, Dan O’Neill, confirmed the dispute between the Students’ Unions and Deputy White had been resolved, describing Deputy White as being “as happy as she could be, being in a government who seem intent on bringing in fees”.

HSE chief to return as Professor of Paediatrics

Current CEO of the Health Services Executive (HSE), Professor Brendan Drumm, is to return to UCD as Professor of Paediatrics when his tenure with the HSE ends next year.
Prof. Drumm is currently on a leave of absence from the position, worth approximately €284,000 a year, and is also expected to return to duty as a consultant gastroenterologist in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.

A spokesperson for UCD confirmed that Prof. Drumm’s leave of absence extended for a maximum of five years, and that he “is entitled to return to the University when [his term with the HSE] is completed. The practice of facilitating staff in this way is well established and doesn’t have any implications in the context of the current recruitment policy.” UCD currently operates a recruitment freeze for financial reasons, forbidding the hiring of new staff.

The spokesperson also confirmed that Prof. Drumm would be paid “on the academic consultant scale”, and when questioned about the salary for such a role, described the figure of €284,000 as being “in the ball park”.

Prof. Drumm’s current role carries an annual salary of approximately €400,000 plus bonuses, though he has insisted that this falls below his combined earnings from his earlier roles in UCD and Crumlin.

When appointed as the HSE’s first Chief Executive Officer in 2005, reports suggested that Prof. Drumm’s employment was dependant on his returning to a high-level position when his tenure ended in summer 2010. Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, refused to commit to such an appointment at that time. The dispute was resolved, however, when UCD offered to provide a leave of absence, giving Prof. Drumm the option to return to academic life next summer.

Prof. Drumm is expected to take time to update his clinical skills before returning to full medical practise.

WebWatch: 15th September, 2009

With all the hubbub about The Pirate Bay being blocked off by Eircom and the imminent Death Of Music™, it’s worth remembering that this isn’t the first time human greed has (allegedly) expedited the downfall of the music industry. [Read more →]

Life after Ronaldo

Gavan Reilly asks if the Red Devils can survive losing their Galactico. [Read more →]

Fulham complete Duff signing

London side Fulham have signed Irish international Damien Duff from Newcastle United for a fee believed to be about £4m.

The 30-year-old joins the Cottagers on a deal believed to match his Newcastle wages of £60,000 per week.

He began his career with Blackburn Rovers, where his new boss Roy Hodgson handed him his first start, where his pace and trickery on the wing led to an £17m move to Stamford Bridge in 2003, where he flourished in partnership with Adrian Mutu before the Irishman suffered injury problems as Mutu fell foul of drugs charges.

Fulham’s website quotes the winger: “I am happy that my move to Fulham has been completed and look forward to joining in with the rest of the squad’s training programme immediately, in preparation for two important home matches this week.

“Fulham had a fantastic season last year and I know that having spoken to the manager in recent days that the Club’s ambitions remain high and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Roy Hodgson added: “I am delighted to add a player of Damien Duff’s calibre to our squad, and welcome the further midfield options he provides us with. I have known Damien for over a decade since he broke into the first team at Blackburn when I was manager, so I’m fully aware of his qualities and I am looking forward to working with him again.”

The move is sure to delight Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni who will no doubt want his bigger and more experienced stars to be exposed to regular first-team football at the highest level.