This article is from page 12 of the 2006-04-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
A REPORT on the inquiry into the resignation of the most senior member of the county’s Vocational Educational Committee has been sent to the Department of Education and forwarded to the VEC.
Former CEO of the Clare VEC, Padraigín Úi Riordáin, informed the educational committee at its July 2004 meeting of her “involuntary resignation” from September 24 of the same year.
Her shock departure came just over two years after she took up the post.
An inquiry into the performance of Clare VEC and how it related to the CEO’s resignation was completed and the resulting report forwarded to all interested bodies last week.
At the July 2004 meeting, Ms Úi Riordáin received the support of the majority of VEC staff and members of the committee. At the time, the former CEO declined to elaborate any further on the precise reason for her unexpected departure. However, she admitted that she had taken legal action as a result of the resignation, and requested that the Minister for Education and Science establish an inquiry.
She later took up a new post as principal of a second-level college in County Cork. Chairperson of the Clare VEC committee, Clare County Councillor, Tommy Brennan (Ind) said that the inquiry was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Vocational Education Acts.
“The inquiry officer had full statutory powers to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence. The Minister or County Clare Vocational Education Committee has no power under the Vocational Education Acts to interfere with, or influence, the inquiry process.
“The statutory function to inquire into matters contained in the relevant terms of reference, rests solely with the inquiry officer,” he added.
“Any attempt by the Minister or the VEC Committee to assume a function in this regard would clearly be ultra vires. Therefore, the report prepared by the inquiry officer on foot of the inquiry cannot be re-examined or amended by County Clare VEC.”
While the Department of Education and Science has circulated copies of the report to those persons affected, it has also stated that “no further publication is anticipated or proposed”.
It was considered by members of County Clare VEC at a Special Meeting of the Committee held on Thursday last.