EXPRESS
UCC
Tuesday, 04 February 2014 | www.uccexpress.net | Volume 21 | Issue 10
Sam Bailey & Newton Faulkner
Social Media
Crime Against Relevance
P8
P17
R&G Week aims to beat €42,000 Stephen Goulding | News Writer
Taoiseach makes first official visit to UCC Audrey Ellard Walsh | Editor @AudreyEWalsh
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, marked his first visit to UCC last Friday, the 31st of January, by delivering a major speech on public sector reform and the importance of public service. The Taoiseach was in UCC to deliver the 15th Annual Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture and present the UCC Department of Government annual student awards. The lecture series, organised by the Dr. Aodh Quinlivan commemorates Philip Monahan, Ireland’s first local authority manager, who served as City Commissioner and then City Manager in Cork from 1924 to 1959. Over the years, the prestigious Monahan lecture series has attracted
distinguished speakers including John Hume, Mary McAleese, Emily O’Reilly and John Bercow. The talk, entitled ‘Towards a Renewed Public Service’, drew heavy inspiration from the life and work of Monahan who Kenny stated had set the highest standards of probity and integrity in Irish public administration. The context to the lecture was the recently published Public Service Reform Plan 20142016 and the Taoiseach stressed the need for the public sector to focus on efficiency, openness, leadership and capacity, as well as the service users. He noted that the Irish public service has already made a significant contribution to national recovery and that a strong public service is vital to Ireland’s future prospects.
“As we approach the centenary of 1916 important we prepare for new century so that today’s children will have a real opportunity to compete. We must rebuild trust nationally and internationally. As democrats we must ensure gap between state and citizens is filled with probity.” Speaking about political reform, Kenny referred to the recent Seanad Abolition referendum speaking about the necessity of senate reform, beginning with the extension of suffrage to all graduates. President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy, and by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Catherine Clancy also addressed the audience while attendees in the packed Aula Maxima included Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food, Simon Coveney TD, the Chairperson
of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer TD, and the Cork North Central TD, Dara Murphy Head of Department, Dr Andrew Cottey, commented, ‘The annual Monahan Lecture is a highlight of the UCC calendar and we are honoured that the Taoiseach delivered this year’s lecture on such a topical issue which is of great relevance to the research activities of our staff.’ Bsc Government graduate John Kenny received the prestigious Graduate of the Year Award and final year Bsc Government student Padraig Mac Consaidín was presented with the Patrick O’Sullivan Essay Competition award for his submission ‘Wit and Humour in Politics’.
UCC’s Raise and Give Week will run from the 17th to the 20th of February, with all money raised this year to go toward the CUH Children’s Ward, Breakthrough Cancer Research and the Cope Foundation. The week, which in past years has been the subject of much debate with regards to anti-social behaviour and heavy binge drinking, was praised as a success last year with a return to its charitable origins. The UCC Students’ Union, who coordinate the week, wish to capitalise on last year’s success with the ultimate goal of breaking last year’s record amount of €42,000. “Raise and Give Week is a really unique aspect of UCC, students from various parts of college come together to give back to the community that supports us,” said UCCSU Entertainments Officer James Murray. “The key is a collective effort toward fundraising whilst finding a good balance with entertainment. The student effort is what really makes the difference with R&G Week.” Already a vast list of fundraising events has been compiled with a balanced mix of daytime and nighttime entertainment. Andrew Maxwell, the Iron Stomach, Nearly Naked Mile, hypnotists, an outdoor silent disco and, of course, a UCC Take Me Out all make the list for the daytime. Meanwhile, night clubs the Savoy and the Bowery are set to donate some of their receipts to charity, with nearly the entire door take from Savoy going to charities. This year’s R&G week will also give students the option to donate online for the first time.
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