The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire
In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire
UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović
US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire
Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović
Anti-Empire >>
Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Julian Assange is finally free ! Tue Jun 25, 2024 21:11 | indy
Stand With Palestine: Workplace Day of Action on Naksa Day Thu May 30, 2024 21:55 | indy
It is Chemtrails Month and Time to Visit this Topic Thu May 30, 2024 00:01 | indy
Hamburg 14.05. "Rote" Flora Reoccupied By Internationalists Wed May 15, 2024 15:49 | Internationalist left
Eddie Hobbs Breaks the Silence Exposing the Hidden Agenda Behind the WHO Treaty Sat May 11, 2024 22:41 | indy
Human Rights in Ireland >>
The Threat to Democracy Wed Jul 24, 2024 11:29 | James Alexander
'Populists' like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage are a "threat to democracy", chant the mainstream media. In fact, they are just reminding our politicians what they are supposed to be doing, says Prof James Alexander.
The post The Threat to Democracy appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
In the Latest Weekly Sceptic, Nick Dixon and Toby Young Talk About Biden?s Withdrawal, Kamala Harris... Wed Jul 24, 2024 09:00 | Toby Young
In the latest Weekly Sceptic, the talking points are whether Biden was the victim of a palace coup, Kamala Harris's staggeringly bad speeches and Kim Cheatle's humiliation.
The post In the Latest Weekly Sceptic, Nick Dixon and Toby Young Talk About Biden?s Withdrawal, Kamala Harris?s Chances and the Kim Cheatle?s Shame appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Wanted: Climate Researcher to Write Extreme Weather Just-So Stories to Serve Up to Credulous Media Wed Jul 24, 2024 07:00 | Chris Morrison
If you wondered where the MSM get all their lurid stories attributing 'extreme weather' to climate change, look no further than a new job ad for a "researcher" focused on creating alarmist propaganda, says Chris Morrison.
The post Wanted: Climate Researcher to Write Extreme Weather Just-So Stories to Serve Up to Credulous Media appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
News Round-Up Wed Jul 24, 2024 01:01 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Porsche Scraps Electric Car Targets as Demand Slumps Tue Jul 23, 2024 19:43 | Will Jones
Porsche has scrapped its sales targets for EVs amid a slump in demand. A previous goal of 80% by 2030 has been watered down and the company now says sales will depend on uptake and how the technology develops.
The post Porsche Scraps Electric Car Targets as Demand Slumps appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Lockdown Skeptics >>
Voltaire, international edition
Netanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en
Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en
Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en
Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en
Voltaire Network >>
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (13 of 13)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13I think we need to be very circumspect with regard to anything we read in the [capitalist owned] media these days. There is a huge amount of anger at the extent to which our incomes are being reduced to fund the gambling failures of the banks/developers/Fianna Fail. And just as the media have been up to their necks in the gambling (e.g. inflating the property market with the help of the property 'journalists') so now they are busy trying to redirect people's anger at targets which are ultimately red herrings. People's powder should be kept dry and directed at a more fundamental root and branch clear out of the current corrupt system. This involves concentrating on building positive alternatives!
well at least they are educated qualified people. Some of the charlies that represent us at government and european level get similar salaries but have no qualifications at all for the job they are doing. Also remember the fiasco where the science advisor to the government and ex GM company employee(!!) got his degree over the internet. when found out he just got shuffled off to somewhere else to continue lobbying for his GM connections.
The current university system has been well infiltrated by business and corporate interests. It's essentially externalising R&D to the taxpayers and also acting as part of the job selection process.The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake is no longer the priority.
Another aspect of university pay that needs to be examined is that of full professors who earn €150,000 per year. Many of them do next to no teaching and spend their time on petty university politics, I don't often agree with Batty O'K but I would welcome his promised "forensic" examination of the higher echelons of the universities, all the officers, presidents and senior professors in particular.
The wastage at this level, the ridiculous amount of offices on Quality Assurance that is simply a paper exercise etc. while staff are not allowed to photocopy material for the students. Junior staff as carrying the can for these professors who think it is below them to carry out any ordinary duties at all. They should be forced to take sabbatical leave and have 35% of their salaries taken to have them replaced. The money is not there to retire them all unfortunately. Many of them contribute to little that they might as well be on sabbatical leave ...
Nonetheless, one can't help wondering why students, so concerned about fee-hikes, are not also engaged with this little sinecure business.
"Well at least they are educated qualified people."
I dunno...
I think Samuel Beckett got it right:
"Dublin University contains the cream of Ireland – rich and thick."
.
The Connacht Sentinel newspaper in Galway reports today, Tuesday, that NUIGalway President, Dr James Browne, "has ignored a call from Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe to take a voluntary pay cut on his significant salary." Clearly not referring to anyone in the Fianna Fáil Party, the Minister had said that "One would have expected that people in such senior positions would do the right thing." But surely the Minister must know that doing 'the right thing' is neither part of our culture nor our Irish psyche? It is completely foreign to us. But it is notable that The Connacht Sentinel takes a less than reverential tone in its remarks about NUIGalway's President. Perhaps the old ways are changing.
The newspaper reports that, while the Union of Students in Ireland has attacked the various university presidents for their cuts refusals, the good old NUI Students' Union has kept a shut mouth: worse, they even back the President's refusal, saying that he was within his rights to refuse the cut.
This bending over to the Establishment in Galway's university can perhaps be put down to the ongoing utter conservatism of the predominantly rural student population who haven't hopped far from home. Reading Che Guevara at the farm's Sunday dinner table before catching the 'bus back to the evil city of Galway simply isn't on. But conservatism runs in the history of NUIGalway's student union and it's hardly likely to change.
Ironically, the Students Who Dare Not Protest have lost the support of the university for their Rag Week, which was slammed this year for its drinking around town and general misbehaviour even by Galway gardaí; so much so that plans are afoot for a strictly on-campus bash next year. Getting pissed and out of hand seems preferable to harbouring a social conscience.
It's hard to understand how any university worth its salt could provide succour to such a cowed and tamed bunch of students. God help us if any of them ever go into politics. Certainly cutting the over-inflated salaries of a privileged few will not be high on their social agenda. Unsurprisingly, this university is based in the city that gave us the notorious 'Galway Races Tent,' of which Fianna Fáil made such good use.
"The Connacht Sentinel newspaper in Galway reports today, Tuesday, that NUI Galway President, Dr James Browne, "has ignored a call from Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe to take a voluntary pay cut on his significant salary."
James Browne is a humble employee of the Irish Taxpayer.
It is up to Batt O'Keefe to TELL Browne what the Irish taxpayer is going to pay him.
(Most people in Galway.....never mind the world... never heard of Dr. James Browne.
Such is his.........MAGNIFICENCE............in World Civilisation.)
.
From the ST university league table;
STUDENT VIEW
Donna Cummins, students’ union president:
First impressions There’s a wonderful atmosphere, brimming with activity.
Worst feature A lack of parking on campus.
Facilities No shortage of entertainment on offer.
Deal clincher Sport clubs and societies ensure that everyone can get involved.
So what is most enraging the NUIGSU is the lack of parking...
Hmmm, must agree with all posters above.
Seems to me the USI have no right to protest against the introduction of fees if they won't say something about this little game.
Dozens of NUIGalway academics have signed a YES petition published in local newspapers. Is this university the most conservative in the country?
And on top of the comfortable quarter million euro per annum one must not forget:
- The Des Res: an on-site, all-services included, fully furnished and maintained home well beyond the means of most ordinary mortals, including (one has to add) people on a mere quarter million;
- The Company Car: not just a vehicle, but a driver too, and overnight accomodation for both when travelling any further than Dunnes Stores;
- The Home Plan: I doubt anyone has added the amounts each University President has gleefully expended on the massive refurbishment of their own homes, ultimately at taxpayer expense, whilst in office;
- The Family and Friends Tariff: free travel and accommodation for the more desirable outings;
- The Tax Break: well no tax on the above for starters, but also add in all the deductibles when your home is your primary place of work;
- Nice Little Earners: like a few directorships, Opera House patrons' passes, etc.
In the case of Trinners, I would guess you could double the basic package with all these extras. And some of these Very Important Presidents also happen to be eligible for a free bus pass, but I doubt they bother.
So why is NUIGalway's SU so silent? This is the university that gets more money than God thrown at it because it is an 'Irish-Language' University yet cuts the hours for its Irish language courses? The university that, far too late, gave the late great poet, Máirtín O Direáin a writers' residency while ignoring him for years? The Lit & Deb can have all the someday lawyers and architects jumping up and down shouting 'Point of Order!' and making out like their in the real world, but not one of them will raise a voice in these times of recession when seven university presidents give the finger to any suggestion that they should cut their enormous salaries.
So why has this story gone away? central issue - why don't the students' union at NUIGalway make a statement about this?