Quinn intervenes in reappointment of college chief [Independent.ie]
- Published: 12 May 2011
EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn last night dramatically intervened in a deepening row over the re-appointment of Waterford Institute of Technology president Professor Kieran Byrne.
He did so amid new revelations over the level of spending authorised by the president's office in the past seven years.
It includes €290,814 for hospitality, €139,977 for courier and taxi charges -- including €129,295 to one local company -- and €134,009 for fine art.
The minister issued a surprise statement on the eve of a meeting of the WIT Governing Body today, which has Prof Byrne's reappointment on the agenda.
Mr Quinn said that the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the State's funding arm for higher education, was awaiting an immediate report on spending at the institute.
Prof Byrne expected to be returned unopposed to the post he has held for 10 years, but the decision was delayed from a previous meeting amid revelations of high spending.
According to previous reports, about €170,000 was spent on fitting out the president's office and the boardroom.
These were based on responses to Freedom of Information (FoI) requests submitted by the Waterford Colleges branch of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI).
Full Story: www.independent.ie
