Staff at crisis-hit college abandon meeting

Wednesday May 11th 2005

STAFF at the crisis-hit college of education in Dublin walked out after a brief meeting with the interim director of the Marino Institute of Education (MIE) yesterday.

They declined the tea and coffee on offer, and stood and listened politely while interim director Helen O Murchu spoke about recent events and the two inquiries launched into the institute.

It is understood the staff members' representative said they had a number of concerns which they would deal with through their union, the INTO.
After that, all 35 or so staff walked out.
The meeting lasted less than 15 minutes.

Ms O Murchu was accompanied by chief financial officer Craig Larner and Fr Luke Monahan, director of the Centre for Educational Services which, along with the college, is also part of the institute.

Both are on the Marino governing body.

No official comment was available from the union but it is understood that relations between the staff and governing body are still at a low ebb.

Meanwhile, "poor morale" among staff, and confusion regarding financial accounting practices, were confirmed in a review commissioned by MIE last year.

The review, seen by the Irish Independent, said people were not clear as to who was accountable for what and to whom.

The review was also designed to establish where misalignment existed, specifically roles and responsibilities, and to report relationships and grievance processes.

The confused identity between the college and the institute was noted by many staff, one of whom was quoted as saying, "There's a struggle for power at the top." Another said, "I joined Colaiste Mhuire, not MIE, and Caoimhe (Mairtin) is the CEO." The review also found a lack of consistency in the application of human resource expertise.

It quotes one staff member as saying there were no contracts, terms and conditions, job specs, performance reviews, grievance/appeals processes.

Another said there was a lack of security, while a third person was quoted as saying things were done on a "grace-and-favour basis". "If you're liked you'll get taken care of," said another.

However, the review and subsequent decisions failed to improve morale.

Over the past year, relations between college head Caoimhe Mairtin and the MIE governing body and Christian Brother trustees, deteriorated so badly that she went to the High Court alleging bullying and abuse.

John Walshe
Education Editor

? Irish Independent