UCC’s conferring of Barroso is a disgrace

I agree with Phil Prendergast, MEP, regarding the conferring of an honorary doctorate on Jose Manuel Barroso by UCC.

As a graduate of UCC, and a retired member of staff, I am astounded at this honour being bestowed on Barroso by our beloved university.

I remember his arrogant, vitriolic response when an Irish MEP suggested that Ireland should be helped by the EU with our debt.

Barroso rounded on him and said Ireland alone caused its economic problems and that Ireland alone could solve them.

Barroso was incensed at the suggestion that continental Europe and its banks were in any way complicit in Ireland’s economic situation.

That a university whose PhD graduates (not honorary, but hard-earned) are asked to work for €50 per week, on top of their dole, and many of whose graduates are on jobseekers’, dole or forced to emigrate as a result of policies promoted enthusiastically by Barroso, should honour this man, is unbelievable. Perhaps Jean Claude Trichet next year?

Joe Heffernan

Boherbue

Mallow

Co Cork