DCU lecturer nominated for Seanad

Daysha

Thought this might interest a few people - Communications lecturer Marie-Louise O'Donnell has been named as one of Enda Kenny's nominations for the Senate (link)

She's been making a name for herself in the last few years with appearances on Pat Kenny and Vincent Browne, but I never thought she'd dive into the political world like this. Anyone know if she's required to give up her role in DCU now?

conscious

Hopefully the Seanad will be abolished soon anyway!

Did the lecturer run as a candidate for the Dail?

Wolfe Tone

What a waste of the taxpayers money, I'm sure it will be a nice gig for her.

XPS

Daysha wrote: »

Thought this might interest a few people - Communications lecturer Marie-Louise O'Donnell has been named as one of Enda Kenny's nominations for the Senate (link)

She's been making a name for herself in the last few years with appearances on Pat Kenny and Vincent Browne, but I never thought she'd dive into the political world like this. Anyone know if she's required to give up her role in DCU now?

Nope. She can have as many jobs as she wants. She cant hold another elected post.

Diarmsquid

This is gonna be gas.

H2G2

XPS wrote: »

Nope. She can have as many jobs as she wants. She cant hold another elected post.

Technically she will be on a leave of absence for the duration. Basically that means the [DCU] job is kept open for her, but she doesn’t get paid. Just like all the ex-school teachers in the dail

DeadMoney

What are the Seanads, are they like the Grammys?

XPS

H2G2 wrote: »

Technically she will be on a leave of absence for the duration. Basically that means the [DCU] job is kept open for her, but she doesn’t get paid. Just like all the ex-school teachers in the dail

Incorrect. She can still lecture if she wants. Although a senator earns in or around 70k they can double-job. She could reduce her status in DCU to part-time until her term expires or is terminated by a dissolution of the Dail by an Uachtaráin, but she doesn't even have to do that - it all depends on Senator O'Donnell's contract with the university, which, considering she is in DCU for so long, is fairly decent on issues like this. Remember the Seanad does not sit on Mondays or Fridays and its easy enough for a lecturer to request certain times for classes. So if she stays on as a lecturer in DCU bad times for her students who will most likely have 9am starts on either a Monday or Friday.

Most likely this will change in the reforms of the seanad proposed.

XPS

conscious wrote: »

Hopefully the Seanad will be abolished soon anyway!

Did the lecturer run as a candidate for the Dail?

Nope Senator O'Donnell was nominated by the Taoiseach as an accomplished broadcaster and educationalist (the latter being the stated reason). She has never ran for the Dail. The Taoiseach may nominate any 11 suitably qualified or experienced individuals - technically senators are not there to represent parties but rather panels.

H2G2

XPS wrote: »

Incorrect. She can still lecture if she wants.
[snip]

I really am right All DCU staff lecturing contracts have a specific Dail/Seanad clause, so no double jobbing in this case.

XPS

H2G2 wrote: »

I really am right All DCU staff lecturing contracts have a specific Dail/Seanad clause, so no double jobbing in this case.

Well if you correct that's moronic and probably repugnant to the spirit of the Seanad. But if this is the case students will be the ones missing out, she's a fantastic lecturer for Radio production.

conscious

Enda Kenny nominated the President's husband for the seanad position

pugsymalone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B57yDUMToRc

This might explain the nomination. Marie Louise and Enda before the election. Really incisive interviewing! "Enda you're so great, why aren't you appointed supreme overlord of everywhere!" And note Enda Kenny's smug smirk in the last ten seconds - unsettling!