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Higher Education Minister Simon Harris Brian Lawless via PA Images

Simon Harris warns universities over sexual harassment cases as he speaks of increased funding

Harris said Irish institutions needed to do more to tackle sexual harassment.

HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTER Simon Harris has said there cannot be a repeat of a sexual harassment case like academic Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain’s if universities are to receive increased funding.

Harris said Irish institutions needed to do more to tackle sexual harassment.

Earlier this year, lecturer and broadcaster Dr Ni Shuilleabhain detailed her experience of enduring two years of repeated sexual harassment by a former colleague at UCD.

Harris said: “If I, as the current minister on behalf of the people of this country, am going to invest more in higher education I don’t ever want to ever want to, ever, ever, ever, hear a story like Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain’s again in an Irish institution.

“We are not where we need to be in terms of tackling sexual harassment, gender-based violence, promoting consent.

“If we are to invest more I need universities to understand [that]. In fairness, as I think they are.”

Dr Ni Shuilleabhain said in September she was speaking publicly about the harassment because she did not want any other student or staff member to endure the same ordeal and that she wanted to begin a conversation that helps address the issue on university campuses across Ireland.

Last month, Harris announced that higher education institutions would be required to report cases of sexual harassment and bullying of staff and students annually as part of a “zero-tolerance” initiative to creating safe third level colleges.

Harris has also tasked universities and colleges with creating action plans aimed at tackling sexual violence and harassment within their institutions.

The minister said that the governance of universities needed to be improved: “Universities are autonomous. I believe and regard their autonomy for really good educational reasons and research reasons but autonomy in terms of education can never be used as a fig leaf to cover up the importance of accountability, transparency.”

He added that when he looked at the leadership of universities he wanted to be able to see Irish society look back at him.

Higher education institutions have repeatedly called on the Government to increase funding in recent years.

Last May, a group of 1,600 scientists wrote a letter to the Government warning that a crisis in Irish research had deepened due to chronic underinvestment and that it “risked becoming fatal if not addressed”.

Earlier this month, the Irish Universities Association warned it could be facing a deficit of up to €200 million due to the ongoing pandemic in the event of a worst-case scenario.

Mr Harris said: “It is absolutely fair to have the funding conversation and it needs to be heard and it needs to be settled. It needs to be addressed and I have a big body of work to do, as does Government, in that regard but in return for that, there will also have to be serious conversations around governance, diversity, inclusion, and flexibility in terms of how people are.

“I don’t say that in a confrontational way because I think our institutions are up for that, I think they get it, I think they understand that that is the way of the future. But one does need to go with the other.”

Harris maintained that “contrary to popular opinion” funding in higher education had increased.

Next year he said €1.8 billion would be spent on higher education, up from €1.5 billion in 2016.

When the spend on Susi grants are included he said that figure would rise to more than €2 billion.

Successive governments have failed to make a decision on a future funding model for third-level institutions.

The 2016 Cassells report on Higher Education concluded that an additional one billion euro in annual funding was needed by 2030 to improve higher education institutions in Ireland.

An economic evaluation of the various funding options as outlined in the Cassells report is due to be completed in the first quarter of next year.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Whack
    Favourite Larry Whack
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:26 PM

    A dose of thumps would do that lad no harm.

    186
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    Mute Shane McGettrick
    Favourite Shane McGettrick
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    Feb 12th 2016, 11:27 PM

    Douchebaggery. God be with the times when this stuff would see you labelled a bol*x, not an internet sensation.

    123
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Feb 13th 2016, 1:41 AM

    haha you guys.

    5
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    Mute Uncle Denise
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:26 PM

    How is this news? I want interesting news not crap like this!!!

    129
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    Mute Tomás O'Loughlin
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:28 PM

    It’s the Daily Edge. Want news, read a newspaper. DE is for entertainment/switching off from too much news.

    48
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    Mute Johnneary
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:24 PM

    I find the title of this article is a tad bit disingenuous.
    Real men don’t do these things.

    25
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    Mute Byyys
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:26 PM

    A whooping 82,742 Views… I guess from a journalist point of view this has gone “viral”?

    105
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    Mute Your Defence
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:58 PM

    1.2 million on YouTube, only been up a day.

    35
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    Mute Eoin Milner
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:29 PM

    Shared….

    5
    See 2 more replies ▾
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    Mute Eoin Milner
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:29 PM

    Like it matters anyway….

    9
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    Mute Notthatguy
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    Feb 13th 2016, 12:42 AM

    Ya make money from hits….. This guy had a plan, and it seems to be working, so fair play, ignore what many Irish are famous for, begrudgers……

    15
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    Mute bacoxy
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:26 PM

    She has set a good eggsample to other mothers

    53
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    Mute Jonny Irish
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    Feb 12th 2016, 11:51 PM

    You’re some yolk!

    24
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    Mute Noel Tate
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    Feb 13th 2016, 11:33 AM

    That pun doesn’t egg-wash with me.

    1
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:56 PM

    I wouldn’t dare throw an egg at my mammy , it’s so disrespectful .. Plus the fact that l would be more afraid of what gets thrown back at me !

    41
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    Mute john truman
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:18 PM

    I would throw him out of the house

    26
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    Mute Luke Sarpish
    Favourite Luke Sarpish
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:28 PM

    Jackass was doing this stuff 15 years ago.Have no idea why there is an article on this. Is he going to become a drug addict and kill himself in a car crash too?.

    25
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    Mute family guy
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:15 PM

    Luke the kids of today don’t recall jackass. It’s all new to them.

    8
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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Feb 13th 2016, 12:14 AM

    Right that’s it, I want to leave this planet.

    18
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    Mute baz newham
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    Feb 12th 2016, 11:16 PM

    Like throwing eggs at your mother !…..like who gives a f&&k!

    15
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    Mute Cill Dará Abú
    Favourite Cill Dará Abú
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    Feb 12th 2016, 11:22 PM

    Oh big man, throwing eggs and his mum. Has he no mates to this sort of idiotic prank on

    14
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    Mute zebedee
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:31 PM

    I do eggsactly the same to my mam each day….but my mam’s better. If she lets the egg fall its scrambled for breakfast….if she catches, it’s boiled or fried sunny side up.

    12
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    Mute John Fergus
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    Feb 12th 2016, 11:18 PM

    well presumably the video is monetized and some people will subscribe to his channel after seeing this video. this could be a very good money spinner for him, hopefully he will deal in his long suffering mother………….otherwise he’s a c##t.

    8
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    Mute fitzz30
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    Feb 13th 2016, 12:06 AM

    Wow that guy is amazing. He should get his own tv show with a prime time slot.

    7
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    Mute Zandranalily
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    Feb 13th 2016, 3:10 AM

    She should try throwing a few back.

    5
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    Mute John Doe
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:56 PM

    Mad yoke..

    5
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    Mute Malcolm Lackey
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    Feb 13th 2016, 12:40 PM

    I like the way no one is taking responsibility for putting this tripe up!! No one wants to see a poor oul one getting egged, why yas even giving this sap publicity?

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    Mute ginger tomcat
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    Feb 13th 2016, 11:34 AM

    What would be nice is if a few people return favour to him at unexpected points throughout next year

    1
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    Mute Lilly Ella
    Favourite Lilly Ella
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    Feb 13th 2016, 8:07 AM

    I think it’s great craic…….as long as he does the cleaning up after an egg breaks.

    1
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