The College Tribune Volume 23 Issue 9

Features

The

Siren

College Tribune sabbatical interviews-

Air interview inside

Pages 7-9

The College Tribune

February 23rd 2010

The Difference is we’re independent

Issue 9 Volume 23

Charity awaits money one year on l

l

Science Day 09 proceeds not donated to hospital 09 Committee unhappy about handling of finances Cathy Buckmaster

Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital of Crumlin has yet to receive proceeds from the 08/09 Science Day. The Committee was chaired by current UCDSU Education Officer Donnacha Ó Súilleabháin.

Science Day fundraises annually for the hospital with various events. Proceeds are donated to the Crumlin Medical Research Foundation, which was due a portion of the €30,000 raised by last year’s event.

The College Tribune has learned that students involved in this year’s event were initially unable to secure sponsorship cards from the hospital because they were still waiting on their money.

Director of Operations in the hospital, Edel O’Malley confirmed to the College Tribune that they were still waiting on the cash; “To date we have not received the proceeds from the 08/09 committee.”

“We have had meetings with the former chairperson and he is following up on some outstanding issues and will be in a position to hand over the proceeds from the 08/09 event by the end of the month.”

A source, involved in Science Day last

Let’s twist again

year, spoke to The College Tribune. “No accounts were kept all year. However, when the hospital contacted him about the money, Ó Súilleabháin was able to give them a breakdown of the accounts for the year.”

“Those accounts suggested that the €30,000 raised for the charity was spent on all expenses for the whole year UCD Suas Society attempts to break the world record for the largest game of Twister including the Ball, Science Day and the Galway cycle,” on the artificial rugby pitches Photo by Barry Hennessy they alleged.

“The money that is supposedly going to the hospital at the end of the roll. down all right.” year’s events are going great and I’m remonth will have to come out of the money UCD Science student Suzanne Cody was This year’s Science Day by all accounts ally happy in particular with Science Day that was meant for the float for this year’s among those who undertook the 09 Gal- was as a success. The 2010 committee con- itself as it has built on previous years and committee.” way cycle and is angry that the hospital firmed that all their expenses broke even allowed the committee to become big even Science Day 08/09 committee member have yet to receive their money. quickly. The Science Ball sold out and is outside Science. Crumlin are really happy Sinead Carroll supported these comments. “I’m really disappointed that after all the now selling extra tickets. As well as this, with how I’ve dealt with things and run “According to the 3rd years in charge of hard work we put in last year for our cycle earlier in the month, 38 students cycled the committee this year.”

Science Day this year, when they contact- to Galway, that one year on, the hospital from Dublin to Galway with each rais- The College Tribune made attempts to ed Crumlin Children’s Hospital looking has yet to receive any of the money raised. ing a minimum of €450. The cycle was contact Ó Súilleabháin and the Students’ for sponsorship cards, Crumlin wouldn’t People who donated money to the cause described as a “massive success”, with Union but they did not return correspongive them to them because they hadn’t re- trusted that we’d be handing it straight €14,000 being raised. dence. ceived any money last year and wanted to over so that the patients would benefit, James Williamson, chair of the 09/10 Sciknow where their money was,” said Car- and that still hasn’t happened. It’s a let- ence Day Committee commented; “This

l Event cancelled

The (invisible) State of the Union l Karina Bracken UCDSU left students in the lurch last week after they failed to show up at LawSoc’s ‘The State of the Union’.

The event was organised to offer UCD Students’ Union Sabbatical Officers a chance to explain what they do and to defend their positions. Heavily advertised through posters around campus, it was billed ‘What do these guys actually do?

Watch the 5 S.U. Sabbats defend the Union!’

On Tuesday last however, the occupants of Theatre P in the Arts block were left high and dry at 7pm. The meeting was eventually cancelled when it became clear that the Union would not be in attendance.

Students left waiting

LawSoc Auditor Conor O’Hanlon explained that this was due to a timetabling clash. “Well basically what happened was the debate was scheduled to start at 7pm and there was a SU Council meeting at 6pm. I think it went on until 8.15pm.”

“Due to that, they didn’t show. So that’s what happened. It would have been good had the debate gone ahead but it didn’t. There’s not a whole lot I can say on it to be honest so you can draw your own conclusions.”

O’Hanlon says that there was a reasonable turnout at the event and it due to be covered by the Campus Television Network (CTN). ‘The State of the Union’ will not be rescheduled as there is not enough time left in the academic calendar year, according to O’Hanlon

www.thecollegetribune.net

UCDSU President Gary Redmond stated that while it was unfortunate the Sabbatical Officers could not attend the LawSoc debate, Council meetings always take precedence over other events.

“There is no set end time for Council - the meeting concludes when all of the evening’s business is covered. Council ended at approximately 8pm, which obviously was well past the advertised time for the LawSoc debate.”

The timetabling issue was unforeseen, according to Redmond. “When the date was agreed with Lawsoc the date was free in all of our calendars however, an emergency council was subsequently organised to discuss a number of pressing issues.”

2

News

College Tribune

February 23rd 2010

Vox Pop

Are you interested in the upcoming SU elections?

Early birds catch the tickets l l

UCD Ball sells 1,000 Concert capacity doubles Aisling Molloy

UCD Ball ‘Early Bird’ tickets sold out in a record four minutes last week, according to event organisers.

The first batch of a thousand tickets for the annual UCD Ball went on sale on Wednesday 17th February. They were available online at www.ucdball.ie and on campus in the SU Shops in Belfield.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the sales of tickets today,” said UCD Students’ Union Entertainments Officer Mike Pat O’Donoghue. “People were queuing outside the SU shops from the late morning, and the online purchasing activity was like nothing we’ve ever seen before.”

The festival-style event will run for over ten hours on the last day of term, with two

stages erected on one of Belfield’s soccer pitches. This year’s ball, dubbed ‘Europe’s Largest Private Party’, will have a total capacity of 8,000. This is almost double last year’s 4,500 limit, and for the first time exceeds rival Trinity Ball’s capacity of 7,250.

O’Donoghue said that they were tempted to set the UCD Ball’s capacity at 7,251 “just to push TCD’s buttons.” However, the interest expressed by students in this year’s Ball led them to increase the ticket-total.

According to O’Donoghue, the success of last year’s event meant that the increase in capacity was easy to negotiate. UCD Safety Office, the college authorities and local emergency services were satisfied with the overall good behaviour of students last year and agreed to up the numbers, he said.

UCD Ball ‘09 saw Japanese Popstars, Republic of Loose and the remaining mem-

bers of SClub play, alongside electro band Booka Shade and American pop-rock band Iglu and Hartly headlining the event.

Despite the pouring rain, some students said they were left feeling “festival fit” for other outdoor summer events. “The weather didn’t put a dampner on the mood,” says 2nd year Arts student Daniel Duff. “Everyone just let everything go anyway.”

O’Donoghue was unwilling to give any hints as to who will be performing this year, but he added that he is very confident that all remaining 7,000 tickets will go once the headliner is announced, if they are not completely sold out beforehand. The remaining tickets go on sale on Monday 22nd at 10am for €35.

UCD Ball will be taking place on campus this coming Friday 23rd of April.

Jack

Conor

3rd Arts

1st Science

I am very interested but only because of the referendum that will be voted on, on the day.

I have absolutely no interest in them at all; it’s a complete waste of time as far as I’m concerned.

Rory

Paul

History MA

2nd Arts

It doesn’t grab my interest personally. In fact, I couldn’t care less; I don’t even know what they look like.

Yes I’m interested, but only for the humour value of watching various desperate hacks struggling to gain my attention in their pointless efforts to bring meaning to their sad, sad lives.

The College Tribune

The Difference is we’re independent

LG 18, Newman Building (Arts Block) Box 74, Student Centre, UCD Email: collegetribune@gmail.com Tel: 01 716 8501 Editors: Cathy Buckmaster Philip Connolly Design: Philip Connolly News Editor: Karina Bracken Turbine Editor: James Grannell Sports Editor: Colman Hanley Dep. Sports Editor: Eoghan Brophy

Music Editor: Jim Scully Arts Editor: Katie Godwin Features Editors: Sisi Rabenstein Eileen Gahan Fashion Editor: Aoifa Smyth Photography Editor: Barry Hennessy Irish Editor: Eoin Ó Murchú

Contributors; Niall Dolphin, Christina Finn, Ian Mulholland, David Tracy, Laura McGlynn, Conor McKenna Katherine Creagh, Ashling Maguire

Fiona Kennedy, Aine Keegen, Cathal O’Gara, Aoife Hamill, Kathleen Henry, Noreen Maloney, Caoimhin Millar, Mark Hobbes, Ryan Cullen, Frank Black, David Murphy, Danny Wilson, Caragh Hesse Tyson, Aisling Kennedy, Roe McDermott Jennie Moles, Erika Meyers , Treasa Dalton, Amy Walsh Danny Lambert, Aisling Molloy Special Thanks; Huw and Mark at NWM, Amy and Chantal at Universal, Danielle, Colm and Rory at MCD, Colin Glesson and Caitrina Cody, Asya, Maximillian Connolly, Eddie Buckmaster and Corah Lanigan, Jim Henderson, Dan Oggly, Jordan Daly, Simon Ward, Roe McDermott, Carol Parrington, Dan McDonnell

The College Tribune Wants You If you are interested in writing for this newspaper please do not hesitate to contact us, no experience is required

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College Tribune

News

February 23rd 2010

3

Billionaire O’Brien buys UCD site l University sells land to former student l Local Councillor lashes out at deal Niall Dolphin

Photograhy by Daniela Sabina Sirbu

Media magnate and UCD graduate Denis O’Brien is reportedly planning to build a house on former college grounds.

The well-known mobile phone and radio entrepreneur recently purchased a three-acre site from UCD. It is understood O’Brien is hoping to start construction on a private residence on the land.

The Thornfield site, which faces onto Donnybrook Green and Greenfield Manor contains horticultural buildings and glasshouses.

UCD’s School of Biology and Environmental Science currently uses these facilities to support the research activities of its plant scientists.

As recently as 2007, the University sought planning permission from Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council to turn the site into offices and student residences. This planning application was refused on the grounds that there would be an increase in the traffic

volume of the area.

Later that year in September, UCD negotiated with O’Brien to sell him the land in a €15 million deal. This involved a cash payment of €12.5 million by O’Brien to UCD, as well as a land swap. O’Brien agreed to give the university a site behind the Belgrove Student Residences. The deal was eventually formally approved by UCD in April 2008, in which the university had until December 2009 to vacate the land.

In recent weeks, contractors have been surveying the site for residential development.

Building work is not due to begin for some time. It is unknown whether planning permission has been sought.

O’Brien graduated from UCD with a BA in History and Political Science and was later awarded an honorary doctorate from the university. He owns Digicel, a mobile-phone licensing company that operates in the Caribbean and South America. According to Forbes Magazine, his personal wealth is estimated at $2.2 billion.

The controversial figure already owns three

houses in the Dublin 4 area. Despite this, O’Brien is not a permanent resident of Ireland. As of March 2007, he has been a resident of Malta for tax purposes.

The Labour Party’s Cllr. Dermot Lacey is a resident of Beech Hill Drive, near the Thornfield site. “It seems to me that a strange sort of university is emerging. On top of this current deal, they have recently sold another site for hundreds of millions.”

“In the current economic climate, this is highly inappropriate. It is elevating the luxurious lifestyle of the few, when the rest of the country is suffering. Are they to keep selling off the family silver?”

Lacey believes that it is a case of bad management by the university. “It would be far better for UCD to help the local area. There is a huge demand for a local national school. The school in the area is excellent, but cannot cater for the amount of students that require a place. They are unable to expand on the site that they have. The recent deals that UCD has made represent a bad ethos from the university.”

Students to decide Coke boycott fate l Referendum proposes end to ban l Mandatory health insurance postponed Colman Hanley Coca-Cola products may be returning to UCD shelves if a referendum to be put before students passes next week.

Students will vote in the referendum alongside the Students’ Union Sabbatical elections.

Those voting will be asked: “Do you wish the Students’ Union to lift its existing boycott of Coca-Cola products, thus allowing the Students’ Union to sell Coca-Cola products in its shops and be in a position to accept sponsorship from the Coca-Cola Company?”

This question will be posed after the SU Council meeting last week voted in favour of holding a referendum to establish the relevancy of the current boycott of Coca-Cola products in all Student Union shops.

The ban was introduced in 2003 following reports that the company was involved in the paramilitary murders of several employees in its Columbian bottling company. The dead were all members of the Columbian trade union, Sinaltrainal. This was widely believed

to be the reason behind the deaths.

Sinaltrainal brought Coca-Cola to court and subsequently launched the ‘Killer Coke’ campaign. UCDSU introduced a ban on CocaCola in all SU shops, allegedly becoming the first institution in the world to boycott Coke.

The decision to take a vote on the ban was raised by SU President Gary Redmond and seconded by Scott Ahearn, current Welfare Vice-President. The vote was unanimously passed by 47 votes to six. The Council’s reasoning for passing the vote was it “questioned the relevance of the boycott at present” and deliberated that “the issues surrounding the purpose of the boycott have now been resolved.”

The ‘No Campaign’ has responded by criticising the Union’s decision. “The actions of Coca-Cola have not been rectified or resolved.

Coca-Cola’s involvement in the lack of water supplies in India being one example”.

“The issue is still relevant, especially as UCD was the first organisation to boycott Coca-Cola. So many colleges, trade unions and organisations followed suit after UCD. As recently

as last year, colleges in America began to boycott Coke,” said the campaign’s spokesperson.

“If UCD go back on their word and change their ways now, it would really bad on the part of Ireland, the student movement in general, and particularly for UCD as it would look like we are a regressive college, as opposed it a progressive one.”

The ‘No Campaign’ criticised the timing of the election. As well as stating that there was very little time to prepare for the referendum, they also believe that the Coca-Cola issue is being raised when the majority of people will be focused on the Sabbatical elections.

Another referendum to vote on the issue of mandatory student health insurance has been deferred. The SU has proposed bringing in a blanket charge of €80 every year for each student to cover the health service in UCD, instead of paying per visit.

Voting for the referendum will take place on the 3rd and 4th of March 2010.

Photograhy by Daniela Sabina Sirbu

4

News

College Tribune

News in brief

Archbishop speaks about abuse in UCD

Compiled by Karina Bracken Drink Aware launches campaign Drinkaware.ie is set to launch a new campaign to educate university students about drinking.

“On a night out a visit to the toilets is inevitable. It’s here far away from the atmosphere of the bar, that you often start to notice the effects of alcohol,” explains Drinkaware.ie. “[It] will be a timely reminder to students enjoying their Rag Week that this is where they could end their night if they drink beyond their limit”.

UCD has therefore agreed to place lifesized vinyls of passed out students on the floors of toilet cubicles. It is hoped that this will send the message to ‘rethink your drinking’.

l First speech after Rome return l Defends amendment process Karina Bracken The crosses of ash on the foreheads of students and staff were not the only black marks in UCD last week. Speaking after an Ash Wednesday Mass on campus, Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin was confronted about child abuse in the Church.

The Archbishop was met by journalists and television reporters from the national media as he left the ceremony in the Blue Church. Martin answered questions for the first time about the recent meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and Irish bishops in the Vatican.

Twenty-four of Ireland’s senior clerics were summoned to Rome to discuss the Ryan and Murphy reports about the perpetration and subsequent cover up of child sexual abuse within churchand state-run institutions.

Victims have spoken out in anger at the meeting after the Pope failed to formally offer an apology or acknowledge the recent resignation of Irish bishops named in the reports.

On the steps of the Blue Church, Martin defended the engagement with the Pope saying that the meeting was not a waste but “part of a process” and they had “begun something”. “Wasted opportunity I wouldn’t agree with, if people are dismayed then they have a right to be dismayed and

Student visa scam It was reported this week that up to 10,000 foreign nationals are working in Ireland illegally after entering the country on student visas. These represent almost one in three of the students who come here from outside the EU. The extent of the student visa scam was revealed last by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern as the Government prepares to tighten up the legislation on rogue colleges and students abusing the Irish educational system.

DCU President Ferdinand von Prondzynski however believes that the visa process for legitimate foreign students should be reformed. “The current inefficiencies, bureaucracies and slow response rates when international students apply for Irish visas is losing us students, but more importantly still is compromising our reputation overseas”.

Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern said he would work to resolves these issues. “My department and the Garda immigration unit will continue to clamp down on the bogus colleges and intend underpinning a stronger framework for the future to provide greater opportunities for the reputable institutions.”

I am prepared to listen to their dismay”.

“This is going to be a long road, it’s a long road of regret and repentance and that means addressing what’s happened in the past, what’s happening today and also looking to the future,” he said.

When asked why the Pope has been reluctant to issue an apology, Martin explained that “there comes a time when repeating the word apology may even be empty”.

Martin admitted to his own feelings of anger over the abuse and the subsequent cover up.

“I’m as impatient as many others to get this thing right. I do believe that compared to some time ago there was a much greater understanding of what’s happened, that’s the first thing of what’s happened, that it did happen.”

Clerical child sex abuse survivor Andrew Madden later requested to meet with Martin to question why issues raised by victims were not addressed by the Pope.

Students and staff leaving the ceremony celebrating Ash Wednesday spoke to RTE news with their reactions to the scandal. Some thought that more could have been said and done in Rome.

“A lot of my friends have turned away from the church because of what has happened in the last number of years. So I think an admission of guilt, an act of contrition of some sort...” admitted one student.

UCD tackles cybercrime l Centre first of its kind in Europe l UCD tracking illegal downloading

Spun-out Irish universities now have a record number of “spin-out companies”, according to new figures from the Irish Universities Association (IUA).

There was an increase of 250% in 2009 as the data shows that 35 companies were created directly from campus research last year, compared to ten in 2008. These were in the information technology sector, bioscience and food areas.

The IUA’s figures also show a trebling of licensing activity last year, where new technologies or processes created by campus-based research teams are licensed to outside third parties.

This reflects a growing trend in the commercialisation of third level educations. The amalgamation of university research and business interests in the private and public sector has been pioneered by UCD President Dr. Hugh Brady.

The data covers ten Irish academic institutions: UCD, UCC, UL, TCD, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, DCU, Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

February 23rd 2010

Gubnet McDonagh Internet users involved in illegal downloading had better watch out, as UCD’s Centre for Cybercrime Investigation (CCI) is the on case.

The UCD team suspects that nearly 65,000 broadband users in Ireland are downloading illegally every week. This information was published in Ireland’s first comprehensive survey of the extent of illegal downloading. In one week they recorded 64,152 IP addresses of people who were suspected of breaching copyright rules.

After a decade of cybercrime research, education and collaboration with agencies, the CCI was formally established in 2006 and has since offered masters qualifications to investigators from different countries worldwide. It is the first place in Europe to offer an academic approach to research into cybercrime. The heads of cybercrime at Interpol and Europol are among the investigators who hold a MA from the centre.

CCI researcher Alan Hannaway said that they can to identify the potential illegal users by developing software which is faster and more accurate than that used before to identify illegal downloading.

“We didn’t think that this would have a commercial application, but we have interest from companies that have lost money because of illegal downloading,” added Hannaway.

The centre has succeeded in getting €4.5 million from the European Commission to help co-ordinate the setting-up of a cybercrime investigation unit in every EU country.

Professor Joe Carthy from CCI told the national media that they had a legitimate expectation of becoming the European centre for fighting cybercrime in the future. He said that criminals were now making millions online from “clean crime”.

“We will be advocating support for that concept that Ireland should be the natural place because of the lead role we have in cybercrime training and education, but that is a battle which still has to be fought,” Carthy said.

Carthy believes that the Gardaí also have an important role to play in tackling online crime. He said they were at the forefront in tackling theft, money laundering, consumer fraud and child protection.

“The Irish police force is the jewel in the European crown when it comes to cybercrime. They are leading the way in Interpol and Europol and are held in the highest esteem.”

Minister for Justice and Law Reform Dermot Ahern said that the Government would support the CCI in its attempts to become a European hub.

The CCI plans to educate specialist officers to unravel complex online abuses and to become an EU hub for centres of excellence in IT forensics.

Photograhy by Daniela Sabina Sirbu

College Tribune

News

February 23rd 2010

5

Fees by another name l UCD admits students pay fees l Library becomes “student service” Amy Walsh

Photograhy by Daniela Sabina Sirbu

UCD’s President Dr Hugh Brady has admitted that third level students are essentially paying some form of fees in the guise of the yearly registration fee.

Brady made the statement alongside six of the other heads of Irish universities at a recent meeting of the Oireachtas joint Committee on Education and Science. They were summoned “to discuss the disbursement of the student registration fee/student support services charge in each college and proposals to accommodate students who haven’t paid the registration fee due to delays in payment of the third level grant.”

A submission by the Irish Universities Association (IUA), representing the seven heads, was also made to the Committee. It reported that the average spend per student of around €1,750 was more than the €1,500 levied this year.

Prior to the proceedings, all seven university Students’ Union presidents sent a joint letter to the Committee voicing their reaction to the IUA’s submission. In particular they reacted to the way that the student services charge had been broken down by the universities.

“It constitutes nothing other than a ruse designed to deflect the committee’s attention from the true nature of this charge,” they said.

“The information reflected here is vastly dif-

ferent from that that has been previously presented to us in our respective institution’s financial committees. We believe that this amounts to subterfuge.”

The universities presidents denied that figures had been altered in any way.

The student services charge was introduced in 1996 by the Minister for Education following the abolition of undergraduate fees. The amount has increased in recent years and is now €1,500 This registration fee is supposed to pay for student related expenses such as registration and examination costs, as well as a host of student services. However, the universities’ criteria for spending the student service fee proved to be a bone of contention at the meeting. Library funding was particularly debated as whether libraries could be considered a vital university facility or indeed a “student service”.

Some of the Oireachtas Committee members concluded that using funds sourced from the reg fee, and spending them on what is being considered “student services”, is essentially third level fees through another method.

During the course of the meeting, Dr Hugh Brady announced that “at the moment, fees exist in Ireland.”

A UCD spokesperson supported the view of the President and explained position of the university on the registration fee: “The University maintains that the student service is a fee by another name and that even at the current level (of €1,500), it does not cover the

costs of the wide range of non-tuition services provided to students.”

“This is far from an ideal situation and the university, along with the six other universities, has been campaigning consistently to convince the Government to not only stop cutting funds but to make a quantum investment in 3rd level education.”

The Universities Act, which oversees relations between the universities and the state, contains an article which allows the universities to charge any fees they wish. This point was highlighted by the heads of the universities in the meeting. Advice from the Higher Education Authority, in relation to what fees universities should charge, is essentially optional but at present the advice is accepted.

The consequences of the decrease of funding to the third level sector have included the increase in the student service charge by €600 this year. Student services have been affected, for example the reduction in library opening times. Further effects include the erosion of staffing levels.

The UCD states spokesperson stated: “In this context, the university is relying on less to deliver the best possible service to students – both inside and outside the classroom.”

Members of the Committee will request the presence of the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keefe at a future meeting.

Make sure that your personal property is safe and secure when on campus:

Never leave personal property unattended.

Always lock your car and do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

Keep all personal belongings out of sight when not in use.

Always lock your bike with a good quality lock Check www.ucd.ie/unicare for more tips on how to keep your property safe.

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Focus

College Tribune February 23rd 2010

7

It’s that time of the year again...

Sabbatical Elections 2010 This time of year sees them crawling out of the UCD woodwork like moths to the shining flame that is the student body. In the next week it is likely that you will encounter at least one of these lads in your day-to-day college routine.

The multitudinous leaflets with their faces will be strewn across campus and look like missing person posters, but unfortunately these people are all too present. You may have the privilege of listening to their oratory skills before a lecture, serenading you with their sweettongued promises of the earth and indulging in some good old fashioned one-up-man-ship. You will most likely

be accosted in UCD corridors and common areas by their acolytes on Election Day, cornering you like hyped up Energiser Bunnies on repeat; “Have you voted? Have you voted? Have you voted?”

Democracy has a price, and that is Students’ Union elections. The College Tribune has interviewed each of the candidates in hope of uncovering their plans of world domination, or at least, getting them to slag each other off. We enticed them into our lair in the bowels of the Arts block with promises of free publicity and asked them about what they have to offer to UCD’s students.

President Can you explain the main points of your manifesto?

I’ve divided my manifesto into the portfolios of each of the vice presidents offices.

If you look at the communications role, I think we need to make the class rep system work.

Evert class rep should fill certain criteria. They should address their class, have contact details for them, notify them of anything important that comes about and they should organise a class party, which is especially important in first year. They should be shown exactly how to that.

They should have a facebook group and keep in contact with their class. What I would propose is that the Campaigns and Communications officer have regular meetings with reps, not all of them, book them in at a certain time, there are 180 class reps so it will take a while. It is a two way system of communication and it encourages reps to find out the problems in their class, and pass on the issues to education officers or other officers who can sort out problems.

I had the role of education officer for a year, and I know how difficult it is. We are moving up the world rankings which is great but we need to ensure that we put in place facilities. Despite budget cuts we still have a large budget.

In the long term, I would like to ensure that there is a 24 hour study area in the new student centre. For the exam periods next year I think we should have a stop gap measure of 24 hour study area, not just an afterhours study. Continuous assessment is here now so now the library is frequently busy. I was the education officer who suggested the 24 hour study and we got the afterhours as a compromise but I think we can take it on from that, and fulfil our original aim.

The library was our No. 1 priority last year, and students agreed, and library hours were not cut back. We had to propose where the budget

Paul Lynam

would come from so we increase the fines to create revenue. I want to reverse the cut backs.

We have three or four libraries open on Saturday and none on Saturday.

I stole an initiative from Sligo IT with our feedback campaign which helped us give students what the needed in semester two and aligned our priorities.

On a national issue, we all know about the issues surrounding the registration fee. Firstly I would semesterise it, which has been approved by the HEA. Also we need to campaign for better funding, we won the war in terms of people not paying more than the Registration fee to go to college, we lost in terms of funding. I would also campaign to have the reg fee tax deductable.

In terms of ents, I would have an ents calendar.

The €3 drinks on Monday and Friday have been successful but we can do better on that, and every Thursday would have a late license. Comedy nights and also to introduce a sports officer, we need to provide more for those who don’t drink.

For welfare, I would like to set up a student support fund, in partnership with the university but also with our own budget. It would be open to all students, it’s not going to cover all of a student’s expenditure but it will help and also set a precedent that it’s there.

Access to buildings is also important; we need the commit to not just say which buildings we need to improve but also to do it.

in this climate.

Why have you decided to run for Office this year?

This year I’m aware of the recession, affordability is huge. The overcharging for Res needs to be highlighted and we need to support students. A lot more people are in a different boat than they were a few years ago. The library and the health centre need to be not just a union concern but a university concern and we need to improve our facilities recession or not.

I was last year’s education officer, so we started a fair bit of good progress while fighting with a 12% budget cut. I took a year to finish my degree and I got to see things differently, I was not totally an outside because of the previous year, I’ve tried to see what needs to be changed especially

Do you have any criticisms for this year’s officer?

Gary has been a fine president, but I would try to get the officers out a little more. I also probably would have taken a harder stance on internal problems this year; I would have put the vice presidents back in their place. That distraction is unnecessary and is not going to help someone get their grant on time. I think he has done a fine job overall, I served under Aodhán and observed Gary; both have been very different presidents. I think I would like to be a merger of both. I would have more of a team dynamic. Officers out postering at 8 am every week, simply because you cannot have volunteers helping the union and letting paid officers sleep in, it should never happen.

Last year we had an officer in Dan O’Neill who wasn’t afraid to campaign; we had marches and demonstrations out at the lake. This union has been very good at lobbying but I do think we need to return to campaigning even just to raise awareness. We can mobilise people and get people involved. Not everyone feels involved in the union and I think that is something we can tackle and it doesn’t cost a cent.

How would you deal with the financial issues facing the union and students?

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Focus

College Tribune February 23rd 2010

Campaigns Explain the details of your manifesto?

The reason I’m running is that I’ve noticed that the Union hasn’t really been that relevant to students. I want to get the Union officers and class reps to talk to their classes more.

On the campaign side of things, I also thought the Union was very quiet. It’s not that they didn’t do campaigns but the average student didn’t know about them.

The kinds of campaigns I want to run are things like graduate unemployment. What I think Students’ Unions in Ireland should be lobbying the government for a graduate stimulus package. One in Britain includes a year abroad volunteering which I think is much more worthwhile than being unemployed for a year.

I also really disagree with the proposition of a €100 increase in registration fee for mandatory health insurance. I think the Union will have a problem with trust if they’re trying to get lower of registration but then they want to introduce a charge. I think it should be free as it is on all but just two other campuses in the country.

Do you have any criticisms for this year’s officer?

A lot of people don’t like the style Paddy conducted the office in and think he’s been very informal and inefficient that way. I think a lot can be done in the office and overall, Paddy and the rest of the Sabbats possibly with the exception of Scott Ahearn, were just too quiet this year.

Colm Pat Maguire de Brún

How do you plan to differ this year?

I’ve several plans but one is that during orientation week in first year, they should have their first class meeting. If you had a meeting where an officer gives a presentation of what the Union is and what they do to help, you’ll have more people wanting to be class reps.

What traits make you more suitable than the other candidates?

Can you explain the details of your manifesto?

How do you plan to differ from that?

On the campaign side, my main issues are the obvious ones. I want a cap on the registration fee, to reform on the grants system; I want it centralised to save on administrative costs and time and to make sure students get the grants on time. My issues in UCD will be campaigning for lower residential fees.

Communications is the guts of why I’m running; I want to change things there. I want to bring the union to the students. I want the average student to know what’s going on all the time. I really believe that if students are aware of the going on in the union that they will question it more and we will become more accountable and more relevant.

One of the things I want to do is have a full calendar out before orientation week with all campaigns, events, and activities for the semester there. So I plan to be more organised from the start.

Do you have any criticisms for last year’s candidate?

I think my experience makes me more suitable. I’ve been involved in various campaigns since about the age of sixteen. I’ve fought against local health cuts in my hometown and I’ve been involved in anti-fascist campaigns in the UK recently and while in Ireland, I’ve been involved in the campaign against health cuts and anti-war campaigns.

Paddy is a friend of mine and he did have problems in semester one. I think he’ll be the first to admit that. He took on too much.

Because of that, certain things suffered but in fairness, he’s picked things up this semester and he’s running everything very well.

What traits do you possess that make you more suitable than the other candidate?

Campaigns and Communications as a job is all about how the Union comes across to the students and I think I’m a personable person; I think I can encourage people to do a better job, I think the union needs a friendly face or someone the students can relate to and I think I represent that.

What you think about the level of student apathy towards the Union?

One of my main things is that, for visibility, I want Sabbats out there lecture addressing regularly for the entire year. Also, at the start of the year I want to have a huge survey so I can find out what students want and act on that.

Education

James John Williamson Logue As somebody who was Donnacha’s campaign manager last year, I’m fairly annoyed by his performance this year.

As a programme officer, I know he’s supposed to be getting feedback from us on the ground before it reaches the higher committees but he hasn’t met us once this year. I’ve dealt with a few students form Science and Arts who’ve emailed Donnacha with queries and he hasn’t replied.

How do you plan to differ this year?

Explain to me the details of your manifesto?

I have a few agendas but what I plan to do is combat the registration fee which is an absolute disgrace; I was at a joint Oireachtas committee meeting in town and the president of this college was asked to give a definition of the services we were paying for. He admitted that the registration fee is just fees in disguise. What I plan to do next year is get complete breakdown of what our registration fee covers. When there’s inflation in the country, the universities have the power to increase the registration fee but it doesn’t have to be in proportion and I just want to make sure that Batt O’Keeffe puts a cap on it to make sure it doesn’t increase any more.

Do you have any criticisms for this year’s officer?

If we go on my record as a programme officer; I’ve met my class reps regularly. We’ve had meetings and discussed issues and I know everything that’s going on at all times. I’d also introduce myself to the most important people in the college that the education officer would be dealing with such as the registrar, heads of schools, programme officers which wasn’t done this year. It’s important to build up good working relationships from the start and to make sure everything is done with ease.

What traits make you more suitable than the other candidates?

I’d say experience really. For the role of education and the role of president, experience is especially required.

You have to be sitting on committees and know how they run. I think I’d be the better person for the job because of that.

Explain to me the details of your manifesto?

Well there are a few great ideas for next year; the education officer should be more transparent and more accountable.

Something we’re going to do in conjunction with next years Campaigns and Communications officer is work on making the class rep system more responsible. There’s a lot of good work but they’re not representing them academically.

Grants are obviously another huge issue this year. I didn’t realise how broken the system was. We have a grants system that delays payment for about two or three months. Students shouldn’t be hungry or stress about financial issues when they’re meant to be focusing on getting an academic qualification.

Do you have any criticisms for this year’s officer?

I have an issue with the availability hours. As far as I’m aware the constitution of the SU says the officers have to put their availability hours on the doors and that never happened. We have to make the time to lecture address; you should be humble enough to give students that opportunity to see your face and be approachable.

What traits make you more suitable than the other candidates?

I wouldn’t have entered this if I didn’t think I was the better man for the job. I think I can show a certain type of leadership that’s never been shown in the SU.

I really don’t care about pressing buttons, I’m not a careerist. I’m in this job purely on the basis of my frustration with what’s going on at the minute.

People talk a lot about my experience but I think I’m the more experienced candidate based on the fact that my student consultative forum and peer mentoring experience deal with actual academic issues.

What you think about the level of student apathy towards the Union?

The union does good work but at the end of the day, it is a clique. Campaign teams are built and they all work exceptionally hard and then they’re forgotten about and left at the door. The teams should be brought through as well and not just mine, but James team as well. No one who gets this involved should be left out.

Focus

College Tribune February 23rd 2010

Ents

Do you have any criticisms for this year’s officer?

I like to separate the Ents office from the Ents officer. I don’t have any major criticisms, but maybe this year there has been a problem getting things out there.

Communications is one of the main things I would like to work on. Every year there is the complaint that people say they can’t get involved, one of the things I’m going to run is a campaign to get people involved.

No first year wants to speak up with 500 other people in Theatre L, it just doesn’t work. It’s all about subtlety.

It always happens, you’re starting second year or are at the end of first year and you say I wish I got more involved. Getting people involved is the one of the biggest things. I can’t find many criticisms, at the start of every year the Union has to take a stance at the start, this year the Union took a huge stance on fees. I thought that they did a really good job on that.

Can you explain the main points of your manifesto?

How do you plan on dealing with the financial problems facing Ents?

I know where I want to go with it, the things I want to keep and the things I want to change. One of my main things is for people who live on campus. I’ve never lived on Res but I’ve woken up enough times in UCD and Trinity to know that we’re not at the same level as Trinity, and I want to bring it on to that level. Coming into this place as a first year is horrible. I came in from Castleknock knowing no one and it’s probably the best thing that happened to me. I was shy when I started but I wasn’t after the first day, but you need to just jump into it. It shouldn’t be that hard to get into.

For people on res, I’m not going to say I’m going to organise bloc parties, I’m not going to promise these mad frat house parties because everyone knows that after the elections it will be forgotten about. I want to organise things that by the end of the first week you should know everyone in your block, you won’t know their name but you’ll at least know their face.

I want to make Ents more interactive, whatever happened this year with the website, I don’t know if it was design issues, but it was on every poster and then people log on and there’s nothing. Everyone is on facebook these days. In most of the things I’ve been involved with this year one of the main forms of advertising, apart from postering, is the web. I want to have a good ents.com, a one stop site for all things going on with societies, Ents, anything that is on; people should know that they can find it all on the website.

I want to bring back the bar. I personally don’t like the way it has gone in the bar, now it’s got to the stage where you go in on a Wednesday night and there are 100 people there before they go out. I think it’s a major thing that the union needs to do. We are planning to get late licences for every Thursday night in the bar.

Thursday is bar night, a way of getting people back, and I’m not saying we’re going to lower drinks prices, but getting some drinks prices lower, well it’s better if people can come in and drink in a safe environment, rather than having a bottle of vodka before a night out. Come in and have a few pints, watch the match or a gig or whatever is on.

It’s important to give people what they want, and included everyone in that. As far I know the forum bar will be gone come January because of the new student centre, so people who used to go there, even people who used to go to Lonnegans, like the L&H or mature students, won’t go any more. We should have something different on every day. A way to do that is the Ents calendar, it kind of lapsed this year a bit but we have to make sure that we sort that out. Even as much as having every Champions League night, of showing when a gig is on, that can be a big help.

Why have you decided to run for Office again this year?

I’ve been involved in Ents now for a while, and I’ve been involved with the union since my first year in

Ron

Welfare

Jonny Scott Cosgrove Ahearn college with Saint Vincent de Paul. I’ve worked with Steven, Gary and Mike-Pat (previous Ents officers) so I’ve seen how it works, what doesn’t work, the good the bad and the ugly of it. I think I can bring it to the next level.

What sort of artists would you like to get to UCD? I want to see what students want, with online polls and things like that once the website is sorted. I have my own mad music taste. There is no point in promising acts, you go with what is available and feasible at the time, there is no point in promising ridiculous acts.

If none of the candidates tickles your fancy, then there is always RON, which stands for Re-Open Nominations. RON is always in the opposition and likes question marks and being shady. RON is dark and mysterious, a sure fire hit with the ladies. Trivia: The 1963 Phil Spector-produced hit single by The Crystals ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’ was not inspired by RON.

9

Can you explain the main points of your manifesto?

The most important point is the person who is reading it, the student of UCD. Some students may never get to avail off, or even know, what I do. They may never need a Welfare Officer, and that’s a good thing.

If they do, then I want them to know what I do. I am always there, 24/7. My office is always open and if I am unavailable, then there is a mailbox you can drop a note in, or emails, phone calls etc.

In terms of actual issues, the main one is financial. One thing I have focused on is getting investment for the Welfare Fund, for which we have secured over €110,000. I’ve also heavily publicised financial assistance, such as the Student Assistant Fund.

St. Vincent de Paul Emergency Fund is a new thing I set up this year.

Welfare has had a good campaigns year, as far as tackling issues goes. The Welfare Crew was one thing that really helped me get those issues out. However, campaigns aren’t just about weeks, they are issues sustained throughout the year. I also want to freeze the rent prices on campus, get them into instalments and then get them lowered.

Why have you decided to run for Office again this year?

When you start out as Welfare Officer, you have to get to know the different student support services in college and the student advisors. This takes time. I was well prepared to go in on day one, but now I can get to finish off the things I wanted to do. Next is going to be a tough year with finances, the accommodation battle and mental health issues in fighting for counselling. A new Welfare Officer would have to take time to find their feet but I would be cemented in the position. Second time around you’ve been through it, you know what works and what doesn’t.

Looking back, is there anything you could have improved on this year, or done differently?

There are some issues on my last year’s manifesto that have not been achieved, but they are a work in progress. Some of these things are on my manifesto now.

What could I do better at? You can never do enough PR. Getting myself out there and the job that this office does.

Will mandatory student health insurance be introduced?

The Health Centre has been a massive issue since I have been in this college. I wanted to pose an idea to the students, that is, an alternative way to fund the Health Centre. The insurance would be a once off payment of €80 that would cover all services and you would get a €25 rebate for outside GP visits. We proposing an option to students; that’s all it is. If students vote on it, it will become mandatory. If not, we will have to go back to the drawing board.

What you think about the level of student apathy towards the Union?

How would you defend the introduction of Health Centre service charges?

We recently went through the archives of the Students’ Union in the 1980s and 90s. The one thing was: the exact same issue of student apathy. It’s always been there. Last year we had about 4,500 for the sabbatical elections, which was a great turn out. I think we need to make ourselves more relevant to the students. It’s a peer, student-to-student process so we can help.

Library and IT services have been taken out of the core HEA grant and put into the registration fee.

Therefore, there is only so much money. The charges were introduced in a best case scenario in a worse case scenario. There is no penalty if you can’t pay. There are also funds that students can access to pay medical charges, which I have publicised.

What does RON mean?

When can you vote RON?

Why would you vote RON?

If more people vote RON than for any of the candidates the election would have to be held again and new nominations would have to be invited. RON is counted as a candidate under the Proportional Representation System used in these elections.

You can vote RON in all elections, in contested and uncontested races. The option will be on your ballot sheet.

If none of the candidates appeal to you and you still want to utilise your vote.

What if RON won?

RON would ‘win’ and the elections would be run again, probably in the next term and new nominations would be invited.

Has RON ever won?

Yes, in the mid 1990s. A couple of uncontested Welfare races also came quite close.

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Features

College Tribune February 23rd 2010

National Science

A New Way? Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny talks to Eileen Gahan about his party’s plans to improve the lot of Ireland’s young people

It has been an eventful few weeks for Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

In addition to the pressures that normally come with the leadership of a political party, Kenny has been under extra fire from opponents due to the fall out from George Lee’s resignation.

Catching up with the leader of the opposition after his visit to UCD’s Young Fine Gael on Tuesday evening, Kenny appears weary. “It is relentless.” he says of the grind of politics. “I was in Donegal at a meeting last night and I didn’t get to bed until 3a.m. and then I had a meeting at 5.30a.m.

I’ve just come from a meeting at the Dáil (proposing a motion of no confidence in Willie O’Dee) and I’m off to another one now.”

“It’s relentless but I love it.” He continues.

“Politics can be a deeply cynical profession, but what drives me on is the constant challenge of convincing people that here is a better way, in the full knowledge that they are the masters and the politicians are only the servants.”

“Sometimes politicians lose the run of themselves and they think that they are God Almighty, when in fact the people are the masters here. They can tell you to get stuffed, get lost or get into government.

That’s the great thing about it.”

It was to convince people of a better way that Kenny came to UCD to discuss his party’s New ERA plan for the economic recovery of the country. Despite the recent turbulent time for Kenny and his party a large crowd of UCD students turned out to hear him speak. He does feel it is very important that politics reaches young people.

“I do find that young people are very idealistic and that they do like to see high

standards in politics. I think it’s a question of being able to address issues in a way that is meaningful for them.”

Yet Kenny also acknowledges that there is a problem with political apathy among young people in Ireland. “There is clearly a problem here. 40% of young people under 25 didn’t bother to go out and vote in the last election and I think that is a failure of politics.”

“How do you make it exciting? Do you do it through celebrity status, do you do it through provocative issues or do you do it through the constant grind of saying to them; ‘Look. This is your country. This is your future’.”

However, one may wonder if it is more than lack of interest that holds young people back from voting. The corruption and poor-judgement that is shown so often by Irish politicians is hardly an encouragement to anybody with high ideals and standards for politics. Rather young people are more likely to feel alienated from the political process and think that their voice will never be heard by those in power.

Yet Kenny denies that this is true. “It is perhaps their [young people’s] understanding that their voice isn’t being heard.

In fact it’s not the case. It is true that many of the pillars of Irish society, such as the church, the banks and the political establishment have had faith in them demolished in the last ten years.”

“That is because of their own poor standards and the corruption within them in one form or another. It is a problem, and anyone involved in politics has to have a clear conscience deep down about what they are doing.”

“But despite those problems if you look

at any general election that takes place in Ireland there are always one or two seats in the Dáil that might decide the change of government, which are held or retained by less than five or six votes. Everyone’s vote does count.”

‘This is your country. This is your future’ “Fine Gael is a part of the Christian Democrat Party in Europe and the motto of that party is that every person counts. So whether you are the president or whether you are the newest voter, your vote is worth the same. The challenge of politics, of all politics is that the parties have to convince as many people as possible to get out there and to cast their vote.”

Any party would have to do a lot to convince the young people of Ireland to give them their support. Under 25’s have been one of the groups worst affected by this recession with unemployment in this group rising from 10% two years ago to 31% today. For the first time in decades educated graduates have been forces to emigrate to seek employment and Ireland once again faces the spectre of a lost generation.

The strain is also felt by those still in third level education as many families struggle with the cost of keeping a child in college and students themselves cannot get the

part-time jobs that once kept them afloat.

Kenny told his young listeners in UCD that he was aware of how young people were suffering in this recession. One point he re-iterated several times was that Fine Gael would give them the opportunity to build a life and a career in this country if that is what they wanted to do.

It could be argued that this is easier said than done, and the question was put to him during the interview how exactly he aimed to reduce youth unemployment. He explained that one way his party proposed to do this was through schemes to employ graduates.

“We have got a whole range of graduates such as architects, graphic designers and teachers and they are unemployed. There isn’t any reason why the Government couldn’t employ up to 30,000 of these graduates in everything from Local Authorities, to State Departments to companies. They wouldn’t be on a full wage but at least they would be using their talents and their qualifications to gain some experience.”

Kenny elaborates one way this plan might be implemented. “For instance, we’ve got a whole raft of teachers out there who have no work. I also find, talking to F.A.S. trainers around the country that there is a serious problem with literacy and numeracy in the country, particularly among young men between fifteen and nineteen. There isn’t any reason why you couldn’t have a these unemployed teachers doing aggressive courses in literacy and numeracy for those young males.”

“The same could apply for architects. They could be put into Local Authorities to start designing buildings that the country is going to need for the future. The same could

apply for graphic designers and engineers, because we have got schools to build and roads to supply in this country. These graduates could use their skills, and get experience and a wage. And at the same time they would be achieving something that is very productive.”

Kenny is also aware of the myriad of problems facing those still in college and he is determined that the opportunity for further education should be open for all.

“I am very concerned about keeping the gates open at third level. I was a part of the government that abolished fees.”

“We did that for two reasons. Firstly it was to open up third level to people who didn’t have it traditionally open to them and secondly to have the financial burden eased on middle income families. That burden is now being exacerbated by families losing between €700 and €900 a month.”

One way Fine Gael proposes to ease the financial burden on those coming to college is to abolish the annual €1,500 registration fee. They would also fund third level education by introducing a P.R.S.I. contribution scheme for graduates once they started working.

It is clear that Kenny has given thought to the well-being of young unemployed graduates and struggling college students as part of his plans for the recovery of Ireland. If, as he says, politicians remain the servants and the people the masters, the young people of Ireland should very seriously consider all their options when deciding who they wish to serve them in the Government of this country.

As Kenny himself said “This is your country. This is your future.”

College Tribune

Features

February 23rd 2010

11

A Pandora’s Box of unpleasant surprises

Professor John Sweeney, one of Irelands leading Climatologists, tells Aoife Ryan about the dangers that will come with global warming The modern threat of global warming was once viewed by many as a distant problem experienced by people in far off lands, as relevant to the average person as drought or starvation.

The recent change in weather across Europe has drawn attention to this dilemma as something that can, and will affect us within our lifetime.

This year in Ireland the harsh winter led to public transport grinding to a halt for a number of days, water supply problems, delays in food deliveries and an increase in ice-related injuries. These struggles will greatly pale in comparison to what we face in the future if substantial changes are not made, leading climatologists argue.

Climatologist Professor John Sweeney of Maynooth predicts more severe weather patterns across Ireland in the near future. “It is important that we distinguish between weather and climate first of all,” Sweeney notes.

“Climate is a plural of weather, so we can’t attribute one extreme summer or winter to climate change. All we can say is that if our climate was to change we could expect such extreme events to occur with increased frequency. We have to remember that extreme events have always been a part of our climate.”

However, from looking at the frequency chart of Ireland’s bad weather the pattern is noticeably worsening, he deduces. Our climate is quickly regressing into a dangerous state.

Sweeney explains how an increased global temperature causes more extreme weather

conditions. “Global warming causes more heat to be in the atmosphere and that heat has to be released somehow. There is more energy in the atmosphere. This can lead to things like more rain in summer and violent storms. There would be more heat in the ocean causing increased storminess. There would also be more high wind events, more hot and dry periods and when rain does occur, it will be more intense rainfall.”

Geographically, Ireland will not only be affected by the general increase in temperature but also from its position in the Atlantic Ocean says Sweeney. “Ireland is an island and its climate is dominated by moisture from the ocean. So if the ocean is more unstable we can expect that to affect us, causing rainfall for example.”

“The climate models do predict a wetter climate for Ireland in the winter, particularly in the west. Models also predict that even though the summers will on average be drier, when rain does occur there will be a violent burst of rain in a short period of time, causing flooding.”

One of the grave problems with global warming and climate change is that there is so much controversy surrounding every aspect of the topic, from how it is caused to how it can be solved. To this day there are discussions on whether it even exists.

“I think it is very important to bear in mind that there is a very well funded and insidious campaign to discredit climate science by people with vested interests against making changes, people such as politicians and economists,” Sweeney ar-

Gaeilge

gues.

For scientists such as Professor Sweeney, the evidence of the existence of global is indisputable. Yet following recent controversies surrounding climate science he does believe that greater transparency is needed from experts in the area.

The recent scandal surrounding the U.N. commissioned study claiming that the Himalayan glaciers would be gone by 2035 only increased allegations that global warming is a myth. But Sweeney explains that this does not discredit climate science.

“The incorrect figures were technical errors not deceit. There was a typo. It read that the Himalayan Glaciers could be gone by 2035 when it should have read 2350, which is obviously a much more accurate figure.”

“Errors like these have done damage to the credibility of climate science but errors like this have been fastened upon and blown out of all proportion. Sceptics don’t get all this coverage when they make mistakes or are misquoted.”

Aside from these contentions, the question of where the world must go, arises.

International conferences such as the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change in 2009 have proved disappointing in offering results. No regulations or international laws on the reduction of emissions were reached due the inability of different nations to agree. “I was at Copenhagen and it was very disappointing for us all,” Sweeney admits.

“I think the main thing we realised was

that Europe has become very marginalised by other powers, two main powers in fact. They are the U.S. and China who want to continue with emission reductions on a voluntary basis only.”

Difficulties also arose concerning the treatment of developing countries in any international climate agreement. Although the developed world acknowledges that these countries have suffered as a result of the carbon emissions of the First World nations and a sum of $100 billion will be made available to them after 2015 to help them cope with the effects of climate change. Yet fierce disagreement arose on how this money is to be spent.

Sweeney explains, “There are fears that the funds will not be well spent, that an autocratic regime will just pocket the money.

But the developing countries resent any restrictions on how the money is to be spent, they see it as a form of neo-colonialism.” Yet Sweeney emphasize the need for sensitivity when it comes to diplomatic agreements such as these. “There has been a lot of suffering in these countries,” he stresses.

“What we really saw was a demonstration of countries acting as individuals, with no sense of greater community. It is very disappointing that all the inspiring leadership that we have seen, from Obama for example, just didn’t materialise. We have a ten year estimate for the climate to increase by two degrees Celsius, which is a dangerous threshold. Changes won’t just happen predictably, they will just take off.

We have a rapidly narrowing window of

opportunity to mitigate this outcome.”

“We will see things like water shortages and lower crop yields. A huge concern is that the world won’t be able to feed itself.

The melting of the icecaps will be accelerated and that may be difficult to slow or stop. There is also a fear that beyond two degrees the oceans will be warmed enough to release huge amounts of methane and that will further increase global warming and instability. After a two degree increase all bets are off and we will open a Pandora’s Box of unpleasant surprises.”

While acknowledging that a certain amount of damage has already been done, Professor Sweeney states that the future can be improved. “We need a two- way approach to cutting emissions. For example we need leadership and guidance from bodies like the EU and the UN.” He furthers “But individuals can do their own bit also, especially as in Ireland we emit such an enormous amount of CO2 per capita”.

“The Power of One campaign is important for making people more sensitive to the idea of saving energy and hopefully it will encourage people to do things like improve their insulation, re-think their transport and use public transport or fewer air journeys.” Summing up the potentials that lie ahead Sweeney adds, “All these changes can produce quite a considerable reduction, they do add up. We must leave future generations with more options.”

Willie O’Dea agus Twitter I mí Aibreán 2008, sheas an tUasal Bertie Ahern ar chéimeanna os comhair a Roinne agus d’fhógair sé d’Éirinn agus don domhan mór go raibh sé ag éirí as ceannaireacht na tíre seo. Bhí tithe an Oireachtais folamh agus na teachtaí ag breathnú ar Ahern ar an teilifís.

Coicís ó shin, d’eisigh George Lee preasráiteas ag tabhairt le fios go raibh a sheal sa Dáil críochnaithe. Chuir polaiteoirí na Dála an raidió ar siúl agus d’éisteadar le George ag labhairt faoi ar chlár Joe Duffy.

An tseachtain seo caite, áfach, i ndiaidh don Dáil a bheith lán go béal don vótáil muiníne as Willie O’Dea, tharla, b’fhéidir, an masla is mó ar thithe an Oireachtais agus seancheard na polaitíochta, nuair a chinn an Seanadóir Dan Boyle ón gComhaontas Glas a chuid faoin Aire Cosanta a rá ar Twitter agus Facebook.

Anois, seachtain dár gcionn, tá Willie éirithe as, mar is ceart b’fhéidir, agus muintir an Chomhaontais Ghlais sásta gur thaispeánadar don phobal go bhfuil fiacla acu ar nós a bpáirtnéirí rialtais. Dúirt an tAire Éamonn Ryan (Comhaontas Glas) ar RTÉ ar an Aoine, go bhfuil “roinnt foghlamtha acu ónar thosaíodar amach ag reáchtáil na tíre sa bhliain 2007.”

Is cinnte go bhfuil; neamhord iomlán a thaispeáint do bhonneagar an daonlathais mar cheacht uimhir a haon acu.

Bhain an Seanadóir Boyle úsáid as Twitter lena mhíshásamh a roinnt. Níor sheas sé ós comhair an Tí. Níor leag sé rún síos sa Seanad. Tá an bealach sin seanfhaiseanta, is gá a bheith ‘hip’ leis na daoine óga.

Ach an féidir polaitíocht a bheith chomh srianta sin? An bhfuil sé cóir go ndearna Boyle an t-ionsaí seo ar O’Dea gan dul thar 140 carachtar.

Tá sé deacair a chreidiúint go bhfuil po-

laitíocht trí Twitter nó Facebook amháin ar leas an phobail uilig. A mhalairt atá ann agus a bheidh ann má leanfar ar an mbóthar seo.

Muna bhfuil muintir na tíre seo sásta ceisteanna an stáit a phlé más gá dóibh éisteacht le díospóireacht cheart in ionad breathnú ar stádas Facebook polaiteora éigin, an fiú an daonlathas a bheith againn?

Is léiriú é ar an tsochaí ar fad. Is cuma, den chuid is mó, faoi cheisteanna den chineál seo muna bhfuil siad gearr, lonrach agus dathúil. Más é seo todhchaí na sochaí, b’fhearr eisceacht a bheith ann don pholaitíocht.

Muna bhfuil, ní fada go dtí go mbeidh Jedward sa Dáil agus, más ea, is gá dom an rabhadh a chur ar mo Twitter láithreach.

Le Jack Ó Leocháin

12

Features

College Tribune February 23rd 2010

Striving for peace in the shadow of the gun

One of northern Ireland’s most controversial figures, William Frazer speaks to Philip Connolly about the community he wishes to represent and the violence he wants left behind For nearly three decades, Northern Ireland¹s South Armagh was the most dangerous posting in the world for a British soldier. Its undulating terrain and fiercely independent people made it the ideal theater of war for the Provisional IRA. While modern Northern Ireland is now a far cry from its bloody past, some have trouble dealing with past traumas.

“I grew up in the nationalist village of Whitecross, Co. Armagh. We were one of very few Protestant families living in the town and we had always got on well with our Catholic neighbors. I attended the local Catholic school because it was the closest and I can say that I was always treated

well by the teachers. I played Gaelic football for a time but we never were involved in the Catholic religious practices which were pushed a great deal by the local priests upon all of us” William Frazer is one of Northern Ireland’s most controversial figures. To some he is a community man supporting those who lost much, to others he is a bigoted liar unwilling to move on.

“As I see it the problem is not between Catholic and Protestant, there has been injustice on both sides. My uncle had no running water or inside toilet, we had no more than anyone else. Just because my religion or culture is different from somebody elses it does not give them the right to kill me. Until the government starts listening to people who suffered in the name of peace and justice the current problems can never be dealt with. Atrocities carried out by Republicans during ceasefires shows that these people cannot be trusted.

People tell us that they are not killing us any longer so we should be happy. My family still lives in fear of gunmen and serial killers because such people still believe they have the right to carry out further atroci-

ties in the name of Republicanism. It is this fear that has not gone away.”

As the head of victim support group FAIR (Families Acting for Innocent Relatives) Frazer has made many friends and enemies. The group, set up following the good Friday agreement in 1998, claims to represent the victims of IRA violence in South Armagh. It has been criticised for not doing the same for victims of Loyalist paramilitary organisations, or for the victims of the Security Forces.

“Our views and voices must be listened to and our experiences respected if we are to forge a genuine peace in South Armagh.

We are the people whose bodies and lives have been shattered. We are a constant reminder of the ethnic cleansing and genocide that has taken place. Our aim is to ensure that the great sacrifice of the Unionist Community in South Armagh will never be forgotten.”

He’s been told he is on a dissident republican hit-list because of his campaign to highlight the continuing criminality of Provos and exmembers of the terrorist organisation.

“When you learn that IRA men have been able to buy bolt-action rifles supposedly to control vermin and the bodyguards of Adams and McGuinness are allowed to carry pistols to protect them it shows people what the agenda is here, when some-

one who is under threat from their pals is told he can’t protect himself ”, the victims’ campaigner said.

In January this year Frazer claimed that IRA hungerstriker Raymond McCreesh had been one of the South Armagh Republican Action Force gunmen responsible for the Kingsmill massacre. A Sinn Féin spokesperson dismissed Frazers claims as the “ramblings of a fantasist”. In conversation he is quick to dismiss many of the claims of bigotry aimed at him. It is not an issue of religion, but one of support for violence, Frazer would have you believe, yet he often comes across as defensive rather than diplomatic.

“We see the building of trust in our communities as being the way forward. Fear of Republican violence and intimidation is still present among ordi-

nary Protestants and Catholics in South Armagh. Currently everything is geared toward the Republicans with Victims groups not being listened to. We feel the government and media must start listening to the people who have suffered - what it is they want and how they can rebuild their lives.”

“A man phoned me last night, at home with his girlfriend. A crowbar had come through his window and a man had stuck his head in and said he was going to kill him. A grown man in tears, that was only last night, you tell him to forget. I spoke to the police last week about fourteen exUDR and ex-army who have all received death threats in the past two months. The police refuse to re-arm them, how do you tell people who have been through that to move on and forget. I know that isn’t what you want to hear, unless the help and support is there things could get worse. I don’t want my son to go through what I went through, there is nobody wants peace more than we do, anyone in our group would say the same, but it has to be genuine peace.”

College Tribune

Features

February 23rd 2010

Travel

13

When the war was over

Cambodia is a country with a blood stained past, but is now one of south east Asia’s biggest tourist draws, Philip Connolly found out why Photograhy by Philip Connolly

Just after Christmas in 1859, the French explorer Henri Mouhot left Bangkok to explore the uncharted regions of Indochina. It took him a year of hacking through brush and fending off leopards, leeches and wild elephants before he arrived at Angkor Wat, the jungle-smothered complex of temples deep inside the kingdom of Cambodia. Less than two years later, he died of malaria.

Mouhot may have had to trudge three hours down a sandy path through dense forest to reach the ruins, but 21st-century visitors have the luxury of everything

from tuk-tuks to Land Cruisers.

And while Mouhot lamented the temples’ abandonment, today they are such popular tourist attractions that the measure of an expert Angkor guide is not his knowledge of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, nor his mastery of English, French and Japanese, but his ability to show visitors the most popular sites - the Bayon, Phnom Bakheng, Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat itself - and have them wondering, at day’s end, “Where was everybody else?”

Few Europeans will recognise the freedom to explore the temples where you rub shoulders with Buddhist monks surveying the temple walls, and monkeys who see tourists as both play mates and potential robbery victims. One could do worse than get a bike, a packed lunch and a map to play explorer for a day. The temples are truly stunning, especially Ta Phrom where

trees grow through the ruined temple, and the Bayon with its massive stone faces looking out from the towers around the temple. There are many sports where sitting in a stone archway you can “kiss”, or appear to on a photo, the giant faces towering in the background which appear as the exact size of a human face.

The tourist town supplying Ankor, Siam Reap, is far from awe inspiring but it does boast some fine restaurants at reasonable prices, especially the oddly monikered Kama Sutra, a restaurant that serves a butter curry of which this writer has yet to

find an equal.

To say that Cambodia has come a long way is to state the obvious. Gone are the Khmer Rouge, the Vietnamese occupation, the United Nations democracyrestoration period and the era of warring prime ministers (the current Prime Minister, Hun Sen, came out on top in 1997).

Angkor Wat has been swept clean of land mines, and it is generally safe to travel city streets at night. Yet there are still plenty of scars on the landscape that give a sense of its blood stained history.

Which makes it all the more stunning and delightful and sad that those Cambodians are, for the most part, some of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. Show kindness to a driver, to a member of hotel staff, and you’ll have an instant friend. Even when they try to scam an extra few dollars from you, it is done with a good humour that

almost makes it endearing.

While Cambodia’s main attraction is the Ankor Wat temples, its capital Phnom Penh has much to offer. For those with a taste for historical sites there is plenty to see. The Royal Palace is a decadent example of a more prosperous time in Cambodian life, including a bizarre but stunning French colonial palace (a gift from Napoleon) which stands out among the Pagoda’s. Women should be sure to wear trousers unless you want to try on a shawl provided by the authorities, who don’t account for fashion or size. A special mention must also go to the children selling water outside the complex, who will remember with a smile that you promised to buy a bottle, even if you don’t come back for three hours.

Drop in for breakfast, lunch or a takeaway picnic to the The Shop café. The French colonial influence is obvious both in the décor and Mediterranean menu. Whether you have pancakes with fresh fruit, salad, quiche, croissants…make sure to finish your meal with one of the colourful mini tarts made with, judging by the taste, happiness extracts. It’s basically a little taste of home, that is if you live near a leafy tranquil café where you eavesdrop on the chatter of expatriate French clientele and can eat a delicious Mediterranean lunch for the price of two coffees in Starbucks.

If you can stomach it, a visit to the historic prison of Tuol Seng is a must, as is a visit to the famed killing fields. Here there is a real sense of the hell that many Cambodians lived through and many who did not. The blood stained floors of a high school turned prison are affecting enough, while the monument of exhumed remains at the killing fields sends a genuine chill down the spine. It would be well advised to plan little else for the rest of the day, as few will be able to leave the killing fields in anything but sombre reflection.

The south of country will give you a taste of the Cambodian

rural life. Kep, a former luxury resort in the south which was once known as the country’s emerging Riviera fell into obscurity during Cambodia’s violent years.

kept charming authenticity. Hire a motorcycle and explore the countryside or drive up the winding roads to the top of Bokor Mountain. Accommodation in the

It is now however beginning to make a comeback but still remains largely undiscovered and is off the map for most tourists. It is therefore never crowded and has

area is luxurious and by western standards incredibly inexpensive. Stay at the Veranda Natural Resort for beautiful views, spacious private wooden bungalows, exceptional service and the home made icecream. However the muddy banks of the shore mean that the water near the beach is rusty in colour and a hotel swimming pool is definitely a plus.

Once you venture out into the Cambodian countryside you are unmistakably, unavoidably in Cambodia: crumbling roads, frequent floods, implacable heat and tour guides who coolly unload personal tales of Khmer Rouge horror. It’s not as if you can, by dint of a fat wallet, hide from this reality.

And why would you want to? The draw for millions of people is not just plush beds and nimble-fingered masseuses; it’s the countries uniquely messy history and the ways all are struggling to move forward.

In the end, what that fat wallet does get you is simply the opportunity to travel which is, as Henri Mouhot understood, the greatest luxury of all. “Even if destined here to meet my death,” he wrote in his journals, “I would not change my lot for all the joys and pleasures of the civilized world.”

14

Opinion

Comment

College Tribune

&

February 23rd 2010

Debate

Emigration: a dismal strategy to solve graduate unemployment

The Governor of the Central Bank, Patrick Honohan, recently gave a speech to an assembled group of Trinity graduates. He advised them that opportunities would be limited: “but seize them when they come, regardless of how ephemeral they may seem likely to be, how poorly remunerated at first, or that they do not yet fully exploit your hard-earned degree-specific qualifications. The speed and solidity of the economic recovery will in fact depend to a considerable extent on the enthusiasm and application of people like you in finding and working on the opportunities that do exist.”

I cannot offer better advice than Governor Honohan in this regard. UCD and other graduates will be graduating into the toughest economy in living memory, made worse by the fact that emigration is not the safety valve it has been in the past. People graduating for the next few years will need to be tougher and more resourceful than any of our graduates have had to be in the last decades.

The Governor also implored them not to turn their back on Ireland should they seek to leave.

“If you do go abroad for better immediate prospects, I hope you will not turn your back on Ireland….Some authorita-

tive analysts are forecasting quite strong growth in output and employment already in 2012. Should this materialise, it will be good news both for those who stay and those who, like so many Irish over the years, leave to explore possibilities abroad.”

This view is echoed by many in the political establishment. Many of our senior figures in areas like law and medicine can remember leaving Ireland to study or work and then returning to make successful careers in better conditions.

There is certainly a body of opinion that says that a period abroad to “ride out” the recession also allows people to gain valuable experience and return to Ireland with fresh skills. Furthermore, compared to years of unemployment, a spell outside of the country is more favourable.

There is a growing body of research showing effects of unemployment on psychological well-being that rival those of having a chronic illness. For many graduates, further study and perhaps voluntary work will provide a way to continue to amass a CV and skills and to keep “in the game”. But this is not viable for everyone and not sustainable for anyone. So, as the Governor wrote, if an opportunity to work in another country arises, I cannot see how any graduate could turn it down if the alternative is to be unemployed in

Ireland.

Having said that, my problem with seeing this as a solution is that it stops us from thinking of much-needed domestic measures and it ignores the tightness of labour markets throughout the world. We are certainly seeing migration from Ireland, but much of it is return migration and I really question the extent to which any developed labour market can absorb graduates coming from Ireland. While the folk wisdom is that Australia and Canada are places where graduates can still find work, the accessibility of labour markets there is nowhere near that of the UK in the previous recession.

I would not discourage people from seeking employment there but we are burying our heads in the sand if we believe that this will solve graduate unemployment in Ireland. The Irish solution to the Irish problem of unemployment, namely migration, is not going to work on this occasion.

This is a time where students and recent graduates not only have to be individually tough but also collectively tough.

There are certainly things that government could do to allow graduates to get through this extraordinary crisis, without suffering long-term damage.

We have not fully explored the possibility of paid internships, temporary public

sector contracts and more flexible social welfare arrangements that encourage part-time work combined with study.

Our approach has been scattered and nowhere near as focused and determined as our fiscal strategy. It is unfortunate that FAS is responsible for schemes aimed at university graduates, a group for which they have little relevance.

Universities are beginning to step up to the task, but have more to do to ensure that a generation of people do not feel they have wasted their time in higher education. It is vital that politicians begin to act on this as a major issue. Even if the economy begins to recover in 2012, many in the intervening period risk ending up at the end of the queue.

Above all, as students and recent graduates, seize your own opportunities but I have also never seen an issue where effective student representation is more important.

Dr. Liam Delaney Liam Delaney lectures Economics in UCD and is Deputy Director of the UCD Geary Institute. He holds and BA in Economics and Psychology and a PhD in Economics from Trinity College Dublin.

The failure of a government and the need for emigration Until this present crisis it was felt that the spectacle of our young people in their thousands being forced to seek opportunities abroad belonged to Ireland’s history.

However the economic crash caused by fundamental features of the capitalist system but made much worse in the Irish context by the property bubble has unfortunately put emigration back on the agenda for our youth.

Ireland in the last eighteen months has become a particularly hard place to be a young person. In an age of supposed equality young people have been singled out for the harshest cuts in social welfare benefits. As of the last budget a young unemployed person is expected to live on about €100 a week.

Even for those young people, including students seeking to pay their way through college, fortunate enough to have a job in the hospitality, retail or catering sector there is a drive from the representatives of small business to drive down the minimum wage and tear up Registered Employment Agreements designed to ensure basic decent standards.

At a time when further education has assumed even more importance college places are too few to meet current demand and the unceasing increase registration charges (college fees by the back door) and the intention of this government to reintroduce college fees proper indi-

cate that the barriers are going up against working class young people participating in college life.

It is the catastrophic surge in unemployment, however, that represents the biggest ‘push factor’ in forcing young people to move abroad. Unemployment, which is set to continue to rise this year, has disproportionately affected young people with figures of 25% of under 25s being typically cited.

It is a huge indictment on this system that a young person can undertake a third level course which, if they had an opportunity to work, would be a real benefit to society but instead, society having invested in that young person’s education gets no benefit at all.

I find distasteful the current proposals that come from the political establishment and the employers’ organisations that promote extended internships and other schemes that amount to young people working for free. It is the worst example of the employers ‘not wanting to waste a good recession’ and taking advantage of a young person’s anxiety to use the skills they have learnt.

Therefore it is no surprise that some 60,000 young people have already left our shores during this recession and there is every reason to expect this trend to continue. The global nature of the world’s economy even compared to the 1980s where there was an economic boom in Britain,

Germany and the US means that the prospects are not particularly great anywhere at the moment and the Australian government like the US is tightening access to Irish people.

Speaking from a Socialist perspective the only solution lies in changing the very nature of this system. In the context of a short article I would sum up socialism thus – the matching of society’s resources including human resources to society’s needs which are all too apparent. Irish society needs more teachers not less, more healthcare professionals not less and so on.

Yet in this upside down world we live in young children must now put up with crowded classrooms and patients wait in ever longer on trolleys while qualified young people are left to rot on half dole or emigrate. This is the failure of a government but more fundamentally the failure of a system which I believe young people will grow to oppose and actively seek an alternative.

Joe Higgins Joe Higgins is a Socialist Party member of the European Parliament for the Dublin constituency and a former Arts and H Dip student in UCD.

College Tribune

Editorial

February 23rd 2010

Tribune

15

Editorial

The State of the Union

UCDSU fared considerably worse than Obama did in his ‘State of the Union’ address recently. At least President Obama showed up. The same could not be said for our own Sabbatical Officers of UCD’s Students’ Union. It is possibly rather telling that the Union failed to turn up at an event in which they were given the platform to defend themselves. It almost had one asking, “Would you look at the state of the union?”

With low voter turnouts for the Sabbat elections and general student apathy towards their positions, it seems the Union do have to make an effort to defend their jobs or at least better explain what it is they do. They may have had a valid excuse, but they could have managed the situation better.

The majority of undergraduates have very little contact with or care about the Union during their time at UCD. This is because, from the outside looking in, the SU is a fairly nepotistic affair. The same people campaign for positions year after year and getting in is more about how many people you know, not what your policies or promises are.

Furthermore, the SU continuously fails to accurately represent or even mirror the student body. There are no female students even running this year, yet they make up over 50% of the student body. One officer who resigned recently admitted that the SU was “just like a boys’ club”.

The elections will proceed in March and different offices will be filled, but nothing will really change and the state of the union will remain the same.

Letters Dear Madam and Sir, I am writing in response to an article that appeared in the last issue of the College Tribune on February 9th, entitled “The New Wonder Drug?”.

The article explores the issue of the cervical cancer vaccines now available on the market and interviews a student and a doctor, both of whom are in favour of the drug.

While any article highlighting the dangers of cervical cancer is to be applauded, I would like to call attention to the other side of the debate.

There have been numerous so-called “experts” who have clouded the issue over the last two years by scaremongering and insisting that the vaccine – available in two forms, Gardasil and Cervarix – has caused

young women to die.

No definite link between the drugs and any fatalities has been proven, although a 2009 study carried out in the US did reveal that Gardasil can increase the risk of potentially fatal blood clots, possibly related to oral contraceptive use and obesity.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, also revealed that at least 20 deaths took place between June 2006 and December 2008, when more than 23 million doses of Gardasil were distributed in the US (enough to vaccinate more than seven million women with all three required doses).

The study concluded that the deaths were not necessarily caused by the vaccines, but in an accompanying editorial, Dr Charlotte J Haug, an infectious disease expert from Norway, expressed serious reservations with both drugs, particularly when it comes to nationwide government-sponsored health programs.

“There are not a huge number of side effects here, that’s fairly certain,” said Dr Haug, about the vaccine. “But you are giving this to perfectly healthy young girls, so even a rare thing may be too much of a risk.”

She went on to say that she wouldn’t accept “much risk of side effects at all in an 11-year-old girl, because if she gets screened when she’s older, she’ll never get cervical cancer.”

She added: “You don’t have to die from cervical cancer if you have access to health care”, presumably referring to the widespread availability of screening tests for the Human Papillomavirus, (HPV) that causes cervical cancer.

She goes on to raise more concerns in her editorial, asking whether the vaccines, which are aimed primarily at preventing cervical lesions, will also prevent the onset of cervical cancer itself and of death?

Since most HPV infections are cleared

naturally by the immune system, how will the vaccine affect natural immunity against HPV, and with what implications, asks Dr Haug?

Significantly, she worries that the widespread take-up of the vaccine will cause women to become complacent about getting screened, forgetting that the drugs protect against only certain strains of the virus.

It is often supposed, both here and abroad, that the vaccines will make young women immune to contracting cervical cancer, a very dangerous misconception.

“How can policymakers make rational choices about the introduction of medical interventions that might do good in the future, but for which the evidence is insufficient - especially since we will not know for many years whether the intervention will work or — in the worst case — do harm?” she asks, a point that is very relevant in this country, where a national

vaccination program for young teenage girls is due to be rolled out this September.

She concludes that there is good reason to be cautious about introducing large- scale vaccination programs.

“Instead, we should concentrate on finding more solid answers through research rather than base consequential and costly decisions on yet unproven assumptions.”

The cervical cancer vaccines may very well prove to be a valuable tool when it comes to saving lives. But are we jumping the gun as a country, by providing the vaccine free of charge to young schoolgirls, when research into its safety and efficacy is still underway?

I hope not.

Yours sincerely, Caitrina Cody UCD Philosphy and English student (2004-2007)

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Inside

It’s Satire Stupid!

d n a n Me s r o t o m w e n l revea l r i g r poste

Orphans vote Fosters as favorite beer.

Dyslexic agnostic wonders if there really is a dog Survivor of siamese twins joins parents Cowen now lacks Willy as well as balls Ulster man caught red handed Opticians to be opened 2020 Deceased claimed he wouldn’t be caught dead with necrophiliac

Trouble in Big Brother It’s been a dramatic two weeks for the Dáil Éireann house with tensions erupting between housemates.

Failure to accomplish simple tasks in the past number of months and indeed years usually form the crux of many issues raised, but the arguments of late took a more personal tone.

George Lee entered the house in a blaze of public hope and admiration with the dream of saving Ireland (and the world) from economic depression. A knight in shining armour by all means, until he found himself sitting on the wrong side of the chamber to make any credible impact - the problem with Irish politics – Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are almost interchangeable. Big mistake George.

He bailed after realising he wasn’t the only economist in the house, no one could remember his wife’s name, they didn’t serve hot milk in the Dáil bar (tea, coffee or alcohol don’t agree with him), and no one really cared what he had to say.

Enda Kenny was a tad red-faced, well

more than usual, about the whole affair after replying “George who?” when questioned by a Turbine reporter. He has resolved to just be himself, a borderline red-head primary teacher from Mayo, with a wife called Fionnuala and less personality or likeability than the average orange girl in Insomnia. I’m glad we could clear that up before the next General Eviction.

A motion of no confidence in Willie O’Dea put forward by Enda to the tune of “Who could take us seriously with a defence minister from Limerick, called Willie and a moustache like that? Oh, and he lied about stuff too.” was voted upon by housemates last week. Willie was saved, but comments made about his facial hair have deeply hurt him and he has since resigned his front bench seat.

The Dáil is the longest running reality entertainment show in history. The Irish people have for some time been giving it a resounding “meh” and calls for it to be axed have again echoed this week, along with suggestions to bring back Bosco and Rosie and Jim. Hear hear.

SU shoots blanks again

Following the blatant rigging of last year’s SU elections that allowed the recent crop of ‘The Brady Bunch’ to infect the college with their lies and false promises, a stern eye shall be kept on the voting system this time around.

An unknown source involved with the counting process spoke to the Turbine and confessed it was all rigged and even stated, “Ever notice ‘election result’ is an anagram of ‘lies, lets recount’.”

Although current SU president Gary Redmond’s Mugabe-esque regime is coming to a close, this year’s uncontested candidate Paul Lynam plans to take a more ‘hands-on’ approach. When asked by the Turbine about what he wanted to do this year, he replied “same thing we do every year, take a length from Hugh Brady” Although competing against no-one, Paul’s campaign began in controversial circumstances after he was spotted on the steps of

the Science block screaming lines from the Quran wearing nothing but Speedo swimwear.

Although as appealing as a sleepover at Gary Glitters, Paul Lynam is set to become the head of the Student Union in UCD. Like a Kinder surprise, we can only expect disappointment.

A disgruntled Arts student came to the Turbine to voice his opinions on this year’s campaign claiming, “Paul Lynam for president is like giving your house keys to a rapist; you’re just asking to be fucked”.

With shag week amongst us, current welfare officer Scott Ahern is another who shall be running solely as he strives to keep his position within the SU. When asked to comment on the campaign and shag week, he simply stated “I’m not desperate to hold position; I just believe welfare officer has an indispensible role within the University. You see, the

problem with men is that they have a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run to one at a time. And I just want to offer help and relief to these people however hard things become. ” With many students wanting change and wanting their voices to be heard involving issues such as rising registration fees that can only be attributed to Hugh Brady’s various ‘swan and dogging’ parties and health care charges that would make self-medicating more sense, these new candidates will hopefully not make anyone despair quite as much as we have during the current year.

With this year’s campaign as exciting as a thalidomide kid, it looks like next year shall be one of great disappointment and hardship for the average UCD student.

People can expect the budgeting knowledge of Fianna Fáil and directional expertise of Nodar kumaritashvili to proceed.

Sport

College Tribune February 23rd 2010

17

the college tribune

Sport

The College Tribune 23.02.10 ucd.ie/tribune/sport Down the Line

We all saw it on Friday, the man at the butt of many a joke for people made his first public appearance since going into hiding last November.

Tiger Woods may have been back in the public limelight, but that was not the normal Tiger that the billions of people around the world have come to instantly recognise over the years.

Looking tired and older than his 34 years, Tiger was a shadow of the man who would stalk around the green and stare down a putt for minutes on end. One must wonder will Tiger ever get over his personal issues, and break the eighteen major titles that Jack Nicklaus won.

While Woods stated he would make a return to competitive golf, you can’t help but question will the fragile man we all bore witness to last week be able to cope with the high pressure of competition, and the inevitable whispering that will surround him.

Closer to home, this week is set to be dominated by the game in Twickenham on Saturday. With UCD’s Rob Kearney ruled out, the recent return of Geordan Murphy is great news, though starting him would be a huge risk. Donncha Ryan and Seán O’Brien were not so lucky, picking up a dislocated shoulder and a broken leg respectively at the weekend.

Front rows Rory Best and Marcus Horan both proved their fitness though, but Best’s indiscipline in picking up a yellow card for Ulster in their 22-22 draw with the Dragons will worry Declan Kidney, especially since Jerry ‘Kung Fu’ Flannery will miss the rest of the championship through suspension.

But it was Jonny Sexton who caught the attention once more. His 22 point haul against the Scarlet’s makes him a strong contender to dislodge Ronan O’Gara. Sexton’s assured performance in Leinster’s 11-11 draw with London Irish in Twickenham last January will also work in his favour.

Irish rugby got a severe bashing by many following the disappointing result in Paris, but it now has a chance to redeem itself. Despite the injuries picked up lately, the starting fifteen will still be very strong. With a bit of luck, a win over Martin Johnson in his backyard would be more than ample compensation for the horror that was the game in Paris.

Colman Hanley

Super League

Sunday’s 12:00 fixture on Astro 1 took place between Olympic Real and Barely Athletic and resulted in a resounding win for Olympic Real, with the end score standing at a triumphant 14-0.

The game began with some congested play as both sides attempted to lay claim to the ball. Stress seemed to be affecting both teams early in the match as a small tussle erupted between two players. The ‘fight’ unfortunately didn’t come to much and looked rather like a cross between riverdance and the doggy paddle.

The first score of the match came just seven minutes into the game when Gareth Austen hammered it home for Olym-

It’s football… but not as we know it

pic after some sloppy defending from the Barley Athletic side. Unfortunately Barely Athletic never managed to produce anything on the scoreboard. They did in fact truly live up to their name showing themselves to be far from athletic when it came to the beautiful game.

The two main scorers of the game were the already mentioned Gareth Austen, and Tom Lohan, who between them scored nine of their sides’ fourteen goals.

It would obviously be overly time-consuming to report each goal that the Olympic side scored.

At times, observers would be forgiven for forgetting that there was even an-

UCD Clubhouse

other team on the pitch. Barely Athletic tried time and again, but failed to break through the white lines of Olympics defence.

The whole scenario made this reporter think of the Battle of Crécy, which took place in 1346. There the English forces under Edward III, much like Olympic Real, defeated the French led by Philip VI through a combination of superior tactics and immense skill.

Throughout the entirety of the match Olympic were all over the ball.

They were like a fly on cow-dung. At the same time their keeper saw about as much action as a nun’s knickers, which is very No success for UCD in Ashbourne Cup UCD’s camogie side were knocked out of the Ashbourne Cup last Friday following a heartbreaking defeat to University College Cork (UCC). Following their quarter-final victory over NUIG by 5-12 to 1-08, UCD were confident of progressing to the final. However they came up against a very tough side in UCC and were edged out on by scoreline of 0-10 to 0-09.

The game had began well for UCD, as they took a 0-6 to 0-1 lead after 22 minutes, points from Mairéad Luttrell, Fiona Phelan, Natalia Hyland, Áine Mahony and Alison Maguire giving the Dubliners a well deserved lead.

But Cork is a Camogie stronghold and UCC fought back to leave UCD with only a three point lead at half-time, 0-7 to 0-4. Into the second half and UCC took charge. UCD were regularly on the back foot, but with Luttrell in fine form in the backs, the UCD backline stood strong initially. However, the pressure eventually told as three time All-Ireland Championship medal winner Orla Cotter registered four points in a row to give UCC a 0-10 to 0-8 lead.

UCD won a 20 metre free in the final minute, but Mairéad Luttrell’s effort just went over the crossbar. Unable to get another score in the five minutes of added time to earn a win or extra-time, UCD exited by just a single point.

For their part, UCC themselves were narrowly edged out in the final as the pre-weekend favourites, Waterford IT, claimed the Ashbourne Cup, WIT win-

little indeed, or so we are led to believe.

The poor lad was left standing in the cold for most of the game with ‘barely’ anything to do at all.

To be fair though Barely Athletics keeper, he did have some good saves for one under so much pressure from the superior oncoming forces. Unfortunately there is little that can be said for any other members of the Barely Athletic team. To them, the game must surely have been as disappointing as a sixty-niner with a midget.

For now however, this wonderful report must come to an end like all good things.

Let us all wait with baited breath for next week’s Superleague bonanza. ning 0-11 to 1-06.

UCD Camogie vs UCC: S Glynn; E Dunne, M Luttrell (0-3f), G Stapleton; C Cooney, L Fennelly, K McDonald; L Hawkes, A Maguire (0-3, 2f), F Phelan (01), N Hyland (0-1), T Manton; A Mahony (0-1), K O’Dwyer, D McGrath Subs: A O’Leary for Phelan (39), R Noctor for Hawkes (blood, 50-53).

Referee: J Morrissey.

Seniors Edged out by DLSP UCD suffered their fifth loss of the season as they were defeated by De La Salle Palmerstown (DLSP) 30-20 at Kirwan Park in Kilternan. The loss sees UCD lie in ninth position in the AIL Division Two table, thirteen points off DLSP in second and fifteen points off bottom side Greystones.

UCD have yet to play four sides in the league, one such side being Dublin University. The colours clash is UCD’s next fixture, scheduled to take place on the fourth of March.

Elsewhere though, it was more positive news for UCD’s U20A’s in the JP Flanagan Premier as they defeated group leaders Lansdowne by 26-14. The win now leaves UCD tied in second place with St Mary’s College on 21 points, one point behind Lansdowne, though both sides have a game in hand on the group leaders.

Other weekend results for UCD were: Stillorgan 25 UCD J2’s 12, UCD J4’s 32 Emerald Warriors 12, Suttonians 12 UCD J1’s 33.

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Sport

College Tribune February 23rd 2010

The Don of young Irish talent

Former all time leading Irish goalscorer and current under 21 Irish manager Don Givens talks to Colman Hanley on the future for Irish football The next high-profile fixture for Irish soccer may be a friendly against Brazil in London at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium on the second of March, but for Don Givens, it’s all about the Armenia under 21’s.

Under 21 manager Givens named his squad for the friendly last week, and the biggest eyebrow raising decision was the inclusion of former Tottenham and current West Ham United reserve striker Terry Dixon. Dixon, an unused substitute for Steve Staunton’s Ireland in a friendly against Chile, excelled as a youth player for both club and country at under sixteen level. Great things were expected of him as he received compliments from former Spurs manager Martin Jol and Spurs midfielder, Edgar Davids.

However, knee problems continually blighted Dixon and a dislocation of the knee in September 2007 led to Tottenham releasing him. However, West Ham took a gamble on Dixon in February of last year, and now he finds himself back in the Ireland set-up. Givens expressed his delight for Dixon, “I’ve seen Terry play a couple times recently, I wouldn’t say he’s back to what he was, but it’s nice to get him back into the squad and see how he progresses. It will be interesting to see how he does as he had a lot of potential when he was younger, so hopefully we can resurrect that.”

The Irish international underage set-up has seen a strong representation from the League of Ireland in the past few years.

In Givens squad for the Armenia game, Seamus Conneely of Galway United is picked, while Séamus Coleman, Kevin Long and David Meyler all were at League of Ireland clubs in the past twelve months.

UCD’s Andy Boyle has also recently been selected for the Ireland under nineteen

training camp in Bisham Abbey, England ahead of the Uefa under 19 elite qualifiers in Ukraine. Givens agreed that more players from home were representing their country lately.

“We usually have more than just one League of Ireland players in the squad.

Ian Bermingham (formerly of UCD) was also close to getting back in, he’s on standby. The great thing is that a few of the teams in the League of Ireland are full-time, the grounds and training facilities have improved, and so has the playing standard. Now when I see League of Ireland side’s play, I think that they could compete at Championship level in England. I’m not saying that be challenging for promotion to the Premier League, but I think they would cope with that level of football. The standard in the league has definitely improved.”

Ahead of the senior side’s glamour friendly with Brazil, all the media speculation and spotlight has been on young nineteen year old Wigan Athletic midfielder, James McCarthy. Since making his breakthrough at Hamilton three years ago, and securing a first team place in the Premier League with Wigan at the start of January.

Givens guided McCarthy through the under 21’s, and he tips the Glasgow born player to make his international debut against Brazil.

“My job is make sure that young players develop and can make an easy transition into the senior team, and with changes to be made for the Brazil game, I’m sure James will be in the squad. It’s a disappointment he’ll be missing for my squad, but if someone’s missing through injury, suspension or because they’re in the senior squad, it opens a door and gives someone else the opportunity to play.”

Finally, with the Brazil game set to take place at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium, Givens paid tribute to his former international teammate, Liam Brady, who will see out his last game with Ireland from the bench at his own employer’s home ground.

“He’s a huge loss to the senior set-up. It may only be when Liam is gone that Giovanni will realise what a big loss he is.

Liam was a great link between the players and the manager, not only because he had played for Giovanni in the past, but because of his experience in the Irish set-up and with Arsenal. I think Giovanni will appreciate even more what Liam has done after he has left. In some ways, it’s a great way for Liam to go out with a game at the Emirates against Brazil as it’s always fantastic to play them.”

If you can’t make it to London to see the Boys in Green take on Brazil, Don Givens stars of the future could be worth a look at. Ireland under 21’s face Armenia under 21’s at the Tallaght Stadium on Wednesday March 3rd, kick-off is at 7:30pm.

UCD retain hockey colours Eoghan Brophy

UCD, in action here against Loreto, won their colours clash with Trinity 3-1 Photo: Daire Brennan

UCD hockey retained the colours title at Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club last Tuesday as they saw off Trinity on a combined score of 5-3, with both the men’s and ladies firsts winning.

But it was the ladies club who were the main source in retaining the title, winning three and drawing one, with only the fifths losing out. However, it wasn’t plain sailing throughout the day with the scores tied at three a piece before the firsts took to the field.

The ladies secured the title though with a convincing 3-1 win with goals from Rachel Burke, Rachel O’Reilly and Kerry McComish in the first 25 minutes. Katie Grehan pulled one back for Trinity, but despite their dominance of possession in the second half, it was too late.

The story was the same in the final game of the day with Trinity retaining most of the possession in the men’s firsts encounter, but it was UCD’s Ben Grogan who got the only goal of the game right before half time. John Brennan held the midfield steady for UCD before Richard Jones won a corner on 35 minutes.

After Jones’ darting run through the Trinity defence, Grogan finished it off from the resulting set-piece with a drag flick right before half time.

Both firsts match were won by UCD side’s missing key influential players. Captain Tim Hill and player-coach John McInroy had to sit

it out for the men, while Lisa Jacob and Megan Tenant-Humphreys were missing for the ladies.

In the seconds match, it was from another corner that led to UCD success, Shane O’Donnell getting on the score sheet to secure half a point. The highest scoring competitive game in the men’s was the thirds where UCD’s club Captain Stephen Tennant Humphreys and Scott Baxter scored. However some defensive woe’s from UCD let their city centre rivals in for four goals in the men’s only loss. The men’s fourths managed to secure a 3-2 victory, but this was not factored into the overall end result.

The ladies seconds again cruised to victory putting four past Trinity without reply. The remaining three matches for the ladies were more competitive, the thirds drawing one a piece, the fourths winning 1-0, while the fifths were defeated by their opponents on the same score line.

With Trinity only managing two wins in the whole series, there was never really a question of the colours title going anywhere other than back too Belfield for another year.

Men: UCD 1sts 1 (Ben Grogan) Dublin University 1sts 0; UCD 2nds 1 DU 2nds 1; UCD 3rds 2 DU 3rds 4 Women: UCD 1sts 3 (Rachel Burke, Rachel O’Reilly, Kerry McComish) DU 1sts 1 (Katie Grehan); UCD 2nds 4 DU 2nds 0; UCD 3rds 1 DU 3rds 1; UCD 4ths 1 DU 4ths 0; UCD 5ths 0 DU 5ths 1

College Tribune February 23rd 2010 On the 31st of October last year UCD gained promotion to the League of Ireland premier division. During the winter they have lost their influential captain Ronan Finn to Sporting Final and must start the season in less than two weeks without him.

But not to worry, UCD have once again unearthed a midfield gem that will be able to step into his shoes. Paul Corry joined UCD mid-season last year, turning down a youth contract at Burnley to sign for the students and take up a position studying Commerce.

But he is not alone in looking to fill the former captain’s boots. “Pete McMahan, Greg Bolger, Robbie Creevy and myself we’ll be fighting for those places so the competition is intense,” says Corry. And Corry is not just facing competition at UCD but also on the international scene.

“I really want to get back into the international scene. I was captain of the under 17’s and 18’s but I’ve always been on the fringes of the Under 19’s and on standby.

First of all my priority is with UCD, but if I can cement a place in the team I’m going to try and aim high.”

“There’s European qualifiers coming up and I’d love to get into one of those squads.

There’s huge competition, Conor Clifford at Chelsea and Conor Hourihane at Sunderland. They’re training full-time so to compete with them would be one of my aims.”

Corry could have taken up a place at Burnley and though he only spent two weeks at Turf Moor at the start of preseason there are memories that stick with him. “I remember the first day I was there Chris Eagles came in and he had the Lamborghini and the legs waxed,” recalls the commerce student.

“I nutsed Graham Alexander and all the lads were given it loads. The big difference there was the fitness. I could do it for maybe 30 minutes or so but those lads could just keep going. Hopefully something along those lines will come along in

Corry on playing

Sport

19

With the league season less than two weeks away Paul Corry sits and talks to Eoghan Brophy about life at the bowl, nutsing Graham Alexander and his ambitions for the future

a few years.”

Having decided he was going to sign for Burnley, Corry got a deferral on his course but changed his mind at the last minute.

“Why I changed my mind I don’t know.

Maybe it’s something that I will end up regretting, maybe not. One of my ambitions is to play at the highest level that I can so I do want to go over to England some day.

At the moment I haven’t really regretted it because I’ve experienced good times with UCD with getting promoted so I

haven’t had any down points yet.”

Next season, Corry will be hoping for more success with club and country but it will be difficult. After an opening day away trip to Drogheda, the students face reigning two-time champions Bohemians in the first home game of the season and hailing from Castleknock, Corry will be up against his local club.

“When I was younger I used to go down and watch the odd Bohs game. Having them at home is a huge game for us just

to test ourselves and see where we stand within the league.”

Not only is Corry hoping to help UCD stay up this season but he is also studying Commerce and part of the scholarship programme which provides its only challenges. “It’s hard to keep on eating properly. We’re told to eat five meals a day, but just small amounts for each meal. Being a college student and trying to get work done is tough. And then there is the social side of things as well.”

“My friends would be going out two or

three times a week. You have to have discipline in that regard and look at the rewards at the end of the line with the League of Ireland, you’ve got to weigh up the options. I do miss it a bit but you have to know when to say no. You can’t try to mix your social and football life.”

Well grounded, both on an education and a football level, Corry will be well up for the challenge of filling in for Ronan Finn, and competing against the top League of Ireland midfielders.

Ryan praises Marian following narrow win Continued from back page

UCD’s 23 point top scorer Neil Baynes against Moycullen in action

Photo: Ian Mulholland

UCD Marian recovered from the midweek set-back of losing 89-64 to Killester to record a home win against Moycullen. The victory, only Marian’s fourth of the Superleague season, was a welcome relief for Coach Fran Ryan after the midweek disappointment.

“I looked back on the tape of the Killester game this morning, and we didn’t get anything on the night. We didn’t play as bad as the score suggested, but they’re a very good team. But with the win today, we’ve reacted very well. That win today is mentally very, very important.”

Ryan was honest in his assessment that his side should’ve have won the game in a much easier fashion. “We should’ve put them away earlier, we were fourteen points up at one stage, ten at half-time, and we were ok at the end of the third quarter with an eleven point lead. However, we went through a bad five or six minute spell in the final quarter where we lacked confidence and we showed some indiscipline where we conceded the technical foul late on. That could’ve cost us the game.

But at the end of the day, we’ve won a game by two points.”

The signs were present in this Marian performance that they were clearly not used to that winning feeling this season. It has been an average season for Marian, but Ryan was quick to point out that things could be so much different but for minor details. “This year we’ve lost four games by only three points or less, so if had even won half of those games, we’d be in great shape.”

One thing that continues to be a huge positive for Marian though, is the great talent that seems to be coming through the ranks of the club. “We absolutely cannot lose sight of that.

For example, in Daniel James, we have maybe one of the best players in the whole country.

He’s out injured at the moment, and unfortunately we’re not strong enough to be able to cope without someone like him easily.”

“Looking at it overall, Conor and Daniel James are still under 20, Cathal Finn too, and Michael Higgins who got eleven points during the week against Killester, he’s only just a week over the age to play under 20. We’ve an extremely young panel and this is all about planning and developing.”

Finally, Ryan was quick to praise two of his more experienced players for their role in the victory over Moycullen. “Niall Meaney is a fantastic captain and he’s a great leader of this group. He showed that today in his group hussles and the way he got the players together. Ian McCormick came in today, especially after Luke (McCrone) got fouled out, and he didn’t get turned over, he made two good baskets and two good assists. Those guys were immense in the last few minutes.”

With Marian facing the Hoops on Thursday in the Sports Centre, both the players and Coach Fran Ryan will be hoping to continue the feel good factor set last Sunday and record back to back home wins.

UCD Marian Points scorers vs Moycullen: Neil Baynes 23, Luke McCrone 20, Cathal Finn 10, Conor Meaney 9, Niall Meaney 8, Ian McCormick 8, Conor James 3.

taking care of the future

Ucd’s Hockey UCD hockey retained the colours title

Don Givens speaks to the tribune

Report Page 18

Interview Page 18

the college tribune

Sport

The College Tribune 23.02.10 thecollegetribune.net

Students grasp victory by a hair UCD Marian 81 Moycullen 79 John O’Loughlin, in action against NUIG, plays on despite a broken thumb

Scores: L Rushe 0-8 (6 frees); D Kenny, L Ryan, J Boland, D Lyng, C Lyng, D O’Connor all 0-1 each.

y Colman Hanley B UCD edged out their opponents from the southern conference Moycullen in a thrilling superleague game in the UCD Sports centre last Sunday.

Despite leading after the first three quarters, UCD were once more forced to rely on Captain Niall Meaney and his brother Conor late on after Moycullen fought back.

Moycullen, inspired by the 34 point display from their talented ball-carrier Lawrence Summers, were unfortunate to finish as losers. Trailing 66-55 at the end of the third quarter, Moycullen were tied at 70 points each with Marian with five minutes 30 seconds remaining on the clock.

Indiscipline from Marian’s American Luke McCrone proved costly, as not only was he fouled out, but the concession of four free throws for a technical foul and the loss of possession led to Moycullen gaining six points and a lead of 76-73.

However late scores from the Meaney’s and Ian McCormick was enough to get Marian across the line, recording only their fourth win of the season.

Ref: B Kelly (Westmeath).

Continued on page 19

Photography by Daire Brennan

UCD fall to DIT in Fitzgibbon Dublin IT 1-14 UCD 0-14 Mobhi Road Colman Hanley

UCD were left to rue the concession of a twelfth minute goal to Paul Ryan as his 1-7 haul inspired his DIT side to victory and leave UCD with a tough away quarter-final game to Limerick IT on Wednesday.

Without the services of Captain Maurice Nolan, Dublin star David O’Callaghan, Shane Cummins (Kilkenny), and the injured John O’Loughlin through injury (broken thumb), UCD still competed well against DIT in an entertaining and high quality tie.

UCD started well, leading 0-3 to 0-2 in the opening quarter. However after some good approach play by Tipperary star Willie O’Dwyer, DIT’s Ryan beat UCD goalkeeper Jamie Ryan to give his side an early advantage. Despite this setback though, UCD finished the opening half the stronger side, going in at the half-time break with a lead of 0-9 to 1-5.

With Dublin senior manager Anthony Daly looking on from the sidelines, one thought that he was to witness UCD win and claim both top spot and the home quarter-final from this year’s group of death in the Fitzgibbon competition. Sadly for the south-siders though, it was their opponents who came out on top in the second half and claimed the victory.

With former UCD player Tomás Brady dominant in the backline, O’Dwyer notching three points and man of the match Paul Ryan causing havoc, UCD were edged by their opponents. Liam

Rushe did his best to keep the game alive with his fantastic eight point haul, but it was not enough.

DIT outscored UCD 0-9 to 0-5 in the second period to win by three points.

The result leaves UCD with the daunting task of travelling south to face many people’s favourite’s for this year’s competition, LIT. Following an illtempered 1-13 to 0-12 defeat in the group stages of the Fitzgibbon last year, UCD will need no further motivation to win.

However the prospect in coming up against one of the leading hurlers in the country, Joe Canning, makes UCD’s task even more difficult. The Portumna man, who was rested in LIT’s final group game against GMIT, has notched a huge 3-19 in his two appearances in this year’s competition, while last year Canning managed to score 1-7 against UCD. The quarter-final also potentially sets up an early preview of the All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling

Final between Portumna (Galway) and Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny). Canning could potentially be marked by UCD’s and Ballyhale’s Shane Cummins. Should Cummins and the rest of the UCD backline manage to keep Canning under wraps, they will go a long way towards reaching the semi-final.

UCD: J Ryan; E O’Shea, D Kenny, O Gough; N Prendergast, D Langton, C Gleeson; R O’Carroll, L Ryan; J Boland, D Lyng, L Rushe; C Lyng, P Atkinson, D O’Connor.

Subs: J Foley for C Lyng (51), R O’Loughlin for D Lyng (58).