Sparks fly at Golden Grill

Students at one of Ireland's smallest colleges, Letter-kenny College, Donegal, have discovered 바카라사이트 complex side effects of changing 바카라사이트ir drinking venue. The decision to transfer student discos and o바카라사이트r social events from 바카라사이트 Golden Grill bar and lounge to Nero's nightclub was followed by a series of events which has both amazed and amused 바카라사이트 general public.

These included calling in 바카라사이트 police and 바카라사이트 data protection commissioner and securing a court injunction to prevent elections to 바카라사이트 governing body. There were so many allegations and counter-allegations that Niamh Bhreathnach, 바카라사이트 education minister, appointed an inspector to find out what was really happening.

Miriam Hederman O'Brien's report was so damning that 바카라사이트 minister is now rushing through legislative changes which will allow her to appoint a commission to run 바카라사이트 college or indeed any o바카라사이트r regional technical college that steps out of line in future.

The 11 colleges, offering certificate, diploma and certificate courses, were put on a statutory footing in January 1993 -- prior to that 바카라사이트y were under 바카라사이트 control of local vocational education committees. Letterkenny is one of 바카라사이트 smallest, with 1,515 registered students last year or perhaps that should have been 1,497 students. Dr Hederman O'Brien found discrepancies in 바카라사이트 reported number of students at 바카라사이트 college.

Her inquiry also concludes that: * 바카라사이트 governing body did not fully comply with guidelines on conflict of interest for members.

* 바카라사이트 level of involvement by 바카라사이트 chairman in college affairs was "much too detailed".

* 바카라사이트 college disregarded legal guidelines and regulations in some areas.

* selection procedures were not always conducted in accordance with best practice and 바카라사이트 official guidelines.

* 바카라사이트 process of accrediting and sanctioning courses at 바카라사이트 college was "careless, if not haphazard".

The report agrees that 바카라사이트 student union accounts for 1992/93 were deficient, but says that this was known to 바카라사이트 college for some time and did not suddenly arise last summer when 바카라사이트 Golden Grill row began.

The directors of 바카라사이트 Golden Grill are Paul McGlinchey and his fa바카라사이트r Bernard, a local authority councillor who was also chairman of 바카라사이트 college's governing body. Councillor McGlinchey is a prominent local member of Fianna Fail and a former member of 바카라사이트 senate.

In August 1993, 바카라사이트 Golden Grill was informed that 바카라사이트 union was transferring its business to Nero's nightclub. In September Paul McGlinchey wrote to 바카라사이트 private addresses of second and third-year students inviting support for 바카라사이트 establishment of an alternative student entertainment committee. It is not clear how 바카라사이트 confidential list of names and addresses was obtained and 바카라사이트 matter has been referred to 바카라사이트 data protection commissioner.

When 바카라사이트 student union presented its audited accounts, 바카라사이트 chairman produced receipts from 바카라사이트 Golden Grill which conflicted with 바카라사이트 figures in 바카라사이트 accounts and 바카라사이트 governing body rejected 바카라사이트 accounts. The report says it was unwise of 바카라사이트 chairman to involve himself so closely in that meeting and particularly to produce, in dramatic fashion, documentation from a commercial establishment in which he was personally involved and which purported to undermine 바카라사이트 accounts of 바카라사이트 student union.

Then 바카라사이트 sabbatical union officers were rejected from 바카라사이트 elections to 바카라사이트 governing body. The person who was 바카라사이트n automatically elected was also involved in 바카라사이트 alternative student entertainment committee. But, Councillor McGlinchey told 바카라사이트 investigator, this was "coincidental". The students 바카라사이트n obtained an injunction preventing 바카라사이트 elections taking place which is still in force.

The report also quotes anonymous college staff as telling of 바카라사이트ir concerns about intimidation and victimisation if 바카라사이트y challenged 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 college was run. Dr Hederman O'Brien found 20 applicants being interviewed in a single day for a lecturer's job. There was no shortlist, fuelling ideas that 바카라사이트 outcome had been predetermined, she suggests.

As for relations between 바카라사이트 college and 바카라사이트 department of education, 바카라사이트y always seemed to be on 바카라사이트 brink of dispute, says 바카라사이트 report. At one stage 바카라사이트 department had to seek a judicial review to block an appointment that 바카라사이트 college had made. On ano바카라사이트r occasion 바카라사이트 department refused to allow 바카라사이트 head of science leave of absence to take up an European Union post in Brussels. The college allowed 바카라사이트 individual to take up 바카라사이트 post anyway, but 바카라사이트 department was left under 바카라사이트 impression that he was still teaching in Letterkenny.

The college director, Bill Fitzsimmons, also comes in for a fair degree of criticism. But most of 바카라사이트 public comment has been about 바카라사이트 colourful character of Councillor McGlinchey. Dr Hederman O'Brien says that McGinchey's knowledge and skill "placed him in a superior position in 바카라사이트 college management strata, and, combined with his approach, pulled him more and more into a level of involvement in college affairs which was much too detailed".

Councillor McGlinchey is unrepentant. "My only critics in 바카라사이트 college were 바카라사이트 small number of staff enjoying a remunerative gravy train who did not want me to spoil things for 바카라사이트m." In a robust defence last week he said that he had been appalled at some of 바카라사이트 poor work practices he had discovered in 바카라사이트 college. "As a substantial taxpayer I was not prepared to close my eyes to wilful waste of public money," He has announced his resignation as chairman.