Irish Federation of University Teachers » ADC Delegates

IFUT mourns the death of Founder Member, Dr Garret FitzGerald

admin — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:16:11 +0000

The death of Dr Garret FitzGerald will be mourned by his fellow members of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), the union of which he remained a full and committed member up to the time of his death.

Dr FitzGerald was the only Taoiseach in Ireland’s history who was concurrently a full member of a Congress-affiliated trade union. He was always proud of that fact as were, and are, all of his many friends in IFUT.

Dr FitzGerald was the Principal Guest Speaker at the IFUT Annual Delegate Conference in recent years. He also took an active part in the campaign in defence of the principle of academic freedom.

Speaking of Dr FitzGerald, the General Secretary of IFUT, Mike Jennings, said “The amazing thing about Garret was that, despite his monumental status as an Academic and Statesman, he was the easiest person in the world to talk to. Was there ever such a great man who was on first name terms with literally everyone he met? IFUT is proud to say that he was one of our own. He will be sadly missed”.

The Irish Federation of University Teachers extends its deepest sympathy to all of Dr FitzGerald’s family and his many friends.

The IFUT Media Release is available here.

New IFUT President announced

admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 15:40:14 +0000

Dr Marie Clarke, University College Dublin, has taken over as the new President of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) following the organisation’s recent Annual Delegate Conference.

Dr Clarke is currently Head of the School of Education in UCD and has been a member of IFUT Executive for a number of years. Her biography and photograph are available on the IFUT Website.

The IFUT Media Release is available here.

IFUT receives messages of support from President Mary McAleese and former President Mary Robinson

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:28:04 +0000

IFUT has received messages of support from President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and former President, Mary Robinson, on the occasion of our Annual Delegate Conference (ADC).

Messages have also been sent by the former South African Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal, as well as Senator Ivana Bacik and Senator David Norris.

All of the above are either current or former members of the union.

Dr Garret FitzGerald, former Taoiseach and a member of IFUT, will address the ADC on Saturday next, 25 April. Dr Fitzgerald made history by being the first ever Taoiseach to be a paid-up member of an ICTU-affiliated trade union.

The full text of President McAleese’s message of support and further details on the ADC can be read in the IFUT Press Release, which is available here.