Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister is aware, Dr. Sheehy Skeffington won the tribunal and was awarded €70,000, which she has donated towards the legal costs of the High Court action. The fact that the Minister has not seen the terms of reference is an indication of how NUI Galway is approaching the issue. There is considerable criticism from the female lecturers themselves as well as the unions representing them, IFUT and SIPTU, who have said there has been a considerable lack of consultation in drafting the terms of reference. As the Minister pointed out, unless there is confidence in the terms of reference and the ability of the task force to carry out the work it is supposed to carry out to look at gender inequality issues, and unless it has the support of the student body, the trade unions and the female lecturers, it is a dead duck before it even begins.

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