Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Cathaoirleach and Leader back after our short break. I look forward to working with the Leader during the coming session.

In the previous Seanad, I spoke in favour of former Senator Crown's Bill relating to the issue of forced retirements on a particular day just because one happened to pass a birthday. Unfortunately, that Bill did not complete its progress. I have received a number of queries from the Leader's county regarding the appointment of the president of the Cork Institute of Technology, CIT, who I understand was reappointed by the outgoing board on a five-year contract at the age of 63 years when it knew that there was a statutory bar on him serving beyond the age of 65 years. Actually, I am not sure that the statutory bar applies to him, as I believe that it was lifted some years ago. If there is a fault in the process, though, will the Leader use his good offices to establish that the process was undertaken correctly and CIT went as far as it could to find a suitable replacement for the president? This is a significant time in the lives of institutes of technology as they move towards technological university status and we do not want to see old cronyism, for want of a better word, keeping someone in a job in which he or she should not have been. I mean no disrespect to the president. He has done a marvellous job for CIT during his term of office, the Leader will agree, but we must ensure fair processes across all systems. I appreciate the Leader taking the time to listen.