Row over academic staff

THE Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has criticised the failure of the Minister for Education to appoint the nominated academic staff representative to the Board of the Higher Education Authority.

Mike Jennings, general secretary of IFUT, said while the board did contain some welcome inclusions, the decision of the minister to proceed with the appointment of a new board appears to contradict statements from Taoiseach Brian Cowen indicating that such appointments were not to be expected.