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1987-02-05

Forum : the Magazine of the DIT Students' Unions, No. 1, 5th February, 1987

DIT Students' Union

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FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE 2 EQUALITY NEWS J Quarterly Newsletter of the EEA

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WHERE? 59 Synge St. Dublin 8 (off Camden St.) FAMILY PLANNING CENTRE Telephone 682420 The HEART of MUSIC 30°/o Discount in the HEART of DUBLIN for Student Card Holders Under 23 Years of Age PAGE 3 FORUM FEB 1987

FORUM magazine 41 Mountjoy Square Dublin 1 Tel (01) 363044 ·. }' THE DUBLIN The magazine of ti'.e OIT Sludenta Unlona INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Welcome

Did you hear the one abOut the Irish third level educational Institute? According to a to FORUM recent survey, 6% oflts students didn't even Michael Nugent, Editor Forum Magazine know It existed. You are not a student of Kevin Street or Welcome to Forum, published monthly Is oP,POSed to censorship of all kinds, and will in Its news and feature sections give fair and Bolton Street You do not attend the during the academic year by the DIT adequate coverage to those who have different Colleges of Commerce or Mar1

Soviet students Yuri Demin, Elena Galkina and Viljar Meister with DIT Director Michael O'Donnell and Bolton St SU President Aidan Kerins DIT and Bolton St Soviet students NIHE's to Bop for visit Bolton Street merge? the Shop A delegation from the Soviet Student Council toured Ireland last The two NIH E's ·one in Glasnevin Bolton Street Ents presents the month, visiting Trinity College, NIHE Limerick, the Department of and one in Limerick • may first "Bop for the Shop" on Education, USI and Bolton Street College. . . merge to form Ireland's first Thursday February 12 in Blooms During their visit to Bolton Street, College Principal and DIT Director Michael Technological University. Hotel on Anglesea Street. O'Donnell spoke of the possibility .of a twinning arrangement .between Bolton Street And H It comes about, the DIT Colleges and a similar Soviet College. He sa1d that he would be pleased 1f such an arrangement could form part of the new Institute. The event has been organised to raise could be made. . . A study group with professors from funds for the Save The Shops Campaign, The visit was hosted by World University Service Ireland, an international th1rd world Ireland, UK, Canada and West Germany which has been runnln~ lor some month! agency that works in the area of creating student awareness on third world 1ssues . It has been set up by the Minister lor Admission is £2.50 by ticket or £3 on the also sponsors development programmes 1n developing countnes : Education to examine the issue. door, with free draws and spot prizes to The Soviets also discussed a possible tour of Ireland by the1r student soccer team They will begin their discussions In be won on the night. with Bolton Street lecturer Bob Eustace, who manages the college soccer team. March of this year. PAGE S FORUM FEB 1987 FORUM newsdesk

Rugby club· And to visit they're Scotland off .. The Bolton Bears rugby team Queens University Belfast leave for Scotland for their host this years Equestrian annual British tour on February lntervarsities on February 7 and 20 to play Edinburgh University. Funds for the trip were raised at the 8. Bear Ballin Blooms Hotel on January 29 Bolton Street Equestrian Society are last. sending a team of nine with two Hopefully the Bears will be more substitutes and are entering the successful against the Scots than they showjumping, dressage, and prix caprilli were against the Parnell Pirates (from competitions. Mountjoy Square) who beat them last month by nine points to eight. CO MAD Election Andrew O'Gorman at the launch al his new book wnh COM AD lecturer Aine Rea Nomination Andrew O'Gorman Dates launches new book Nominations for positions on the Andrew O'Gorman, Head of the Licensed Trade Department in the Students Union Executive in the College of Marketing and Design, launched his new book "Bartending College of Marketing and Design for Pleasure and Profit", at a reception yesterday, Wednesday Feb 4, are to open on Monday March 9, in Guinness' Brewery, James Street. and close the following Friday. The 300 page book contains information on licensing law, security, bar catering, and liqueurs sales in Ireland. Mr O'Gorman is also the publisher of the book, which IS well The positions to be filled will include illustrated throughout and is a comprehensive guide to all aspects of the Irish bar trade. President and Deputy President - both of which are full time positions for the year - alon~ with the part time positions of Education Officer, Entertainments Officer, Welfare Officer, Clubs and Societies Officer, Publications Officer, Womens Rights Officer. Metro Edi!O< Joe Lowry 11 the launch The elections themselves will be held on March 25 and 26. Hustings dates have yet Rathmines to be arranged. students UCG win at launch orienteering Bolton Street and Kevin Street newspaper Orienteers joined forces last week at the Orienteering College of Commerce journalists lntervarsities in Galway. have relaunched Metro, a Despite a gallant effort by the DIT team, The COM AD womens soccer team newspaper produced as a course particularly from Gareth Blacker, they project to give practical were unable to stop the onslaught from the UCG contingent experience to the students. Despite this setback, both DIT teams COMAD soccer revival The official launch was on Thursday Jan have been quite successful so far this 29 in the College, where Principal Jim year, and are among the most active of the Both male and female soccer teams in the College of Marketing and Hickey reported that the paper had been D.JT clubs and sociebes. Design have been active this year under the guidance of club president passed by "the three cntics in my own home·. Colm FitzGerald, a 2nd year marketing student in the college. This .vears Metro costs SOp. It has The male team has just finished a probationary period with the Irish Technical Colleges Interviews with Gordon Thomas, Barry Football Association after its expulsion several years ago, and are looking forward to Norman, Frank McGuinness and others. It News items taking on the more established teams from Bolton Street and Kevin Street. According also. has five pages of news, profiles of to Colm, the female team have ·an undefeated record so far th is year", although rumour cyclist Sean Kelly and American Football Items for Inclusion In next months has it that this record consists of played none, won none, drew none, lost none. team the Tornados, and features on newsdesk should reach us before Friday Both teams are sponsored by Budweiser Beer. Mr Shane Humphreys is the team fashion and the Civil Defence nuclear February 271987. manager. anack provisions. FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE 6

CO MAD team wins debate

The national students debating tournament, organised by the Irish branch of World University Service is proving to be very popular this year. In the last debate in January, COMAD beat Rathmines on the Motion "The rich are not hypocrites". COMAD, captained by Paula Murphy, were opposing the motion. Dermot Coyle vice-president of Rathmines Students Union, one of the judges at the debate, said that "COMAD were a better researched team, and by comparison, Rathmines showed little The new library in ilio College of Commerce evidence of research, and didn't make clear what they were talking aoour. There are numerous and constant debates takin9 place all over the country for the College of Jacqui Quinn is pn:oentcd with ilio Sunday World Journalist bfilio Year award by Colin McCicll.and, Editor duration of the academic year. last week, Sunday World Carlow RTC beat Bolton St,knocking them out of the tournament and taking Commerce away their chance to win the wonderful Jacqui Quinn wins prize of an educational trip to Southern Africa, sponsored by "Debate for gets library Development '87'. Sunday World award The next debate is on Thursday 12th A new library has been opened in the February between COMAD and Church of College of Commerce in Rathmines. It is Among the students who graduated from the College of Commerce in Ireland College of Education on the motion s1tuated 1n the former St Vincent de Paul Rathmines last week was Jacqui Quinn, who recieved a certificate in "Tied aid is better than no aid". Meeting Rooms. journalism. Jacqui was also selected as Sunday World Journalist of the Year. She is pictured above after being presented with her trophy by Sunday World Editor Colin McClelland. The graduation ceremony took place in the ADS. Bolton St Welfare Week going well Bolton Streets Welfare Week, organised by Deputy President of the Students Unirm in the College, Conor Lalor, and sponsored by Allied Irish Banks, has had a very satisfactory first series of events. Students have heard talks from Jon O'Brien of the Irish Family Planning Association's Youth Group on fertility TPat Kenny talks to Pal Munden and Pat Murphy after his lecture to the COM AD control and pregnancy counselling, from Communications Society Tom Burgess of Sales Placement on job interview techniques, from Vivian Peele of AlB and Colm Desmond of BOI on banking facilities and student loans, from Mairead Foley of the Dept of Social Welfare on Pat Kenny gives talk to means tests and allowances, and from solicitor Brian Sheridan on civil rights legal aid and criminal law. ' Kevin St COMAD students The final talk of the week is on Friday RTE Broadcaster Pat Kenny gave a lecture to the Communications February 6, at lunchtime in the College. The speaker will be Marian Foster of the Rag Week Society of the College of Marketing and Design in Trinity College on Community Action on Drugs group (CAD) December 21ast. and she will be talking on different types Kevin Street Rag Week 87 is He outlined his own career and talked of job prospects for young people in ATE. OJer of drugs, and the dangers of their use and drawing to a close as FORUM 300 students attended the talk, which was sponsored by Guinness, AlB and the COMAD abuse. The Union of Students In Ireland has hits the colleges. Students Union. Pictured aoove are two of the entrants Further debates planned by the Society include one on Section 31 of the Broadcasting produced a comprehensive manual dealing with virtually ever aspect of student from the ever popular three leQged pub act, and another on the rock mdustry and the effect on 11 of modern mus1c marketing. crawl. We have no notion who or what Speakers at this talk will include Jim Aitken, Mark Cagney and BP Fallon. welfare, and it is available to students through local SU Offices. they are. ' ' PAGE 7 FORUM FEB 1987

Fighting For Change

FORUM talks to Aldan Kerins, President of Bolton Street Students Union, Chairman of the DIT Inter Student Committee and a member of the City of Dublin VEC. A1dan Kenns. President Bohon Street Students Un 10n.

FORUM: In what ways has College available accomodation for students, but convents to house third level degree life changed since you started In also visits flats and digs to ensure that they courses . This should not have been 1982? are suitable. There is an Employment Office tolerated. The DIT students are as entitled to AIDAN KERINS: I have seen three main in the College that works full time in the adequate facilities as any other third level changes. Firstly, students have become graduate employment area. Here in the DIT students. The new DIT site in Bishop Street is more industrious and interested in high we rely on the good will of lecturers to provide already several years behind schedule. The grades in the hope of obtaining employment this service for us. The DIT is one of the few Bolton Street extension was supposed to be on graduation. I think most students will third level educational Institutes in the fit for occupation three years ago. While we agree that the level of competition between western world where you have to travel to the have been stuck in this limbo situation the them and their classmates is rising every far side of a city to get to a College sports NIHEs have been expanding at enormous year. Secondly, the level of services offered facility. Even primary and secondary schools speed. Work has already started on the by the VEC to the students has actually run by the CDVEC have such facilities latest phase of the Dublin NIHE, while the dropped. In 1982 there was a Students adjacent to their school. If we were able as a College of Marketing and Design does its Services Officer with back-up staff based in Students Union to take the DIT students and annual impression of the moving crib with Mount Street who worked with the Students put them in the NIH E. or in Queens University some students having gone through four year Unions on such issues as accomodation courses spending each year in a different lists, medical information and sports and building. Surely this is non conducive to cultural activities. Today all we have is one education. part time welfare counsellor for over 25,000 " ... only final year students. Thirdly, students are finding the students would FORUM: So you are putting some of level of fees to be a major burden on them the blame on the VEC Itself? and their parents. Fees have risen by 550% remember when we AIDAN KERINS: I suppose one must say since 1981 in the DIT Colleges and this, had a Student Services yes. In my five years I get the feeling that the combined with the unavailability of a student only comes second place when comprehensive grants scheme is making Department run by decisions are being taken. The old cop out of access to the DITmore and more exclusive. the VEC ... " 'there's no money there' does not hold water for me any more. Last summer after a two FORUM: How have students reacted year Students Union campaign to get the to these changes? government to authorise the VEC to employ a AIDAN KERINS: The main problem is that the Belfast, for a week we are sure that every grade 4 officer to fill the vacant Student majority of our students are on courses student would want us to prioritise a Services position , the VEC abused the lasting less than three years, and hence they campaign for better facilities for them . clearance and instead employed a person in don't notice the cutbacks being made to the their admissions office. I accept that Colleges. For example, only final year FORUM: And who Is responsible for admissions are a very important part of the students would remember when we had a this lack of facilities? Institute but why had not the VEC been Student Services department run by the AIDAN KERINS: Ultimately we must blame running their own campaign to get clearance VEC. Most other students now assume that it the Department of Education. Successive for that position? The Student Services is the function of the Students Union to governments have pumped millions into the Report commissioned by the VEC in 1984 and provide these services. They don't realise NIHEs and left the DIT starved of funds. I feel passed by them in 1985 called for a whole that in other Colleges the authorities accept that the VEC could have done more when range of facilities to be provided for the responsibility for them. In the NIHE in times were better and money was available in students. The only body within the Institute to Glasnevin, with less than 2,000 students, the seventies, to ensure that the DIT act on the report so far has been Bolton there is a full time staff of five manning the Colleges got their fair share. Instead, they Street College Council, wh ich at its last Student Services Department. There is an allowed themselves to be fobbed off into meeting passed a motion from the Principal, Accomodation Officer who not only lists renting out disused warehouses and old Michael O'Donnell, calling on the VEC to seek FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE 8

...

Aidan Kerins funding from the new lottery for the provision by the Students Unions the VEC rejected this first. The Committee includes TDs and of adequate sporting facilities and a Student directive and instead raised fees by only Councillors who are well used to the Centre in the DIT. 10%. While even this is too high an increas~ procedural wrangles and debate form that it showed that the VEC can stand up to the takes place at this level. It can be quite FORUM: But what can the VEC government if it wants to. frustrating to return from a Committee actually do about these Issues? meeting and have fellow students complain Surely It Is the government that FORUM: You are a member of the that you weren't forceful enough on a point takes the decisions? City of Dublin VEC. Do you find that when you know that you have done all that AIDAN KERINS: We must remember that the you can represent the students you can within the constraints of Committee VEC is a body nominated by the political viewpoints effectively? procedure. And to even reach the stage when parties. It is a subcommittee of Dublin AIDAN KERINS : We are very lucky in one you can do all that is possible within these Corporation, which is elected by the general sense in that we are the only third level constraints, you will have to sit through at public every five years. They have a Institute in the country to have a student least five or six months of meetings, by responsibility to the people who elected them sitting on the local VEC . From working with which time your term is almost completed. and that responsibility is to carry out the other Regional Technical Colleges one can The other committee members, whose term objectives of the Vocational Act. The VECs lasts from one local government election to were set up to ensure that local input would the next, and the members of VEC staff who be there when decisions are taken regarding sit in on committee meetings, have much vocational education. Local socio-economic " ... the rejection by the more time to settle in to the day to day and educational factors should be taken into running of the committee. They can be in a consideation when deciding what happens to VEC in 1984 of the govt position to counteract many of your courses in the VEC Colleges. But such directive on fees showed that arguments with examples and precedents issues as fees are now decided on at they can stand up to that you may not be aware of. It took me a government level and issued as directives considerable time before I could go in to to the VECs who merely rubber stamp the the govt when they meetings feeling as confident and prepared decisions already taken at a higher level. The want to ... " as the other members. VECs should not tolerate this. They should stand up to the government and put into FORUM: The student representation action the policies that they have decided on on the VEC has obviously been atVECievel. see how much we benefit from having this. brought about by the DIT Students Without it we would have to rely on other Unions acting together rather than FORUM: What do you mean by that? people to put forward our arguments at Independently. Do you see this as AIDAN KERINS: 111 give you an example that committee level. It also means that we can an Important development? will be very relevant in the near future. The react instantaneously if an unexpected AIDAN KERINS: Yes. Obviously in a situation VEC at its last meeting passed an emergency motion or issue is brought up. We can make where decisions are being taken that effect motion tabled by myself opposing the our point before instead of after the decision students it makes sense to have a voice at proposed 6% fee increase announced by the has been taken . It also means that the that level. The main decisions in the DIT government in its book of estimates. To be students of the Institute, through their Colleges are taken at VEC level, not College consistent the VEC should refuse to representative on the committee, have level. We must work together., and in recent implement this fee increase when the time access to all information necessary to make years we have been working more closely comes to do so. There is no point in only informed decisions at Students Union level. together than before. All DIT Students Union having paper policy on issues as important staff are now employed through a company as this . They did this in 1984, when the then FORUM: Are there any drawbacks? we set up in 1985, DIT Student Union Ltd. All government ordered them to increase fees by AIDAN KERINS: The transition from student of the SU Presidents in the DIT Colleges are 20%. After an intensive lobbyin,g campaign meetings to VEC meetings is intimidating at directors of this company, along with three PAGE 9 FORUM FEB 1987

IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS AmMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CLOS! STUDENT SHOPS IN BOLTON ST. KE~ ST. AND THE COlLEGE Of MARKmNG MAKING STAFF REDUNDANT AND REMOVING AN IMPORTANT SERVICE FROM OVER MCOO STUDENT VOTERS siJRf£'1THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO SOLVETHIS PROBLEM BETWEEN NOW AND THE GENERAL ELECnON

The billboard ac:cross the road from the College hired by Bolton Street Students Union others who have experience in the student national union to defend our interests. The generally gone well. What most concerns me field. The DIT Inter Student Committee, of Union of Students in Ireland has always had at this stage of the year is that we continue to which I am currently chairman, co-ordinates very close links with my College, Bolton concentrate on the real issues, and do not the implementation of policy in areas that Street. I in fact last year was a vice president allow ourselves to slip into the pre-congress effect all five Colleges. It consists of the of USI, and over the last five years I have electioneering trap so common in recent Presidents of the five Students Unions, and been very actively involved in the workings of years. meets on a regular basis. the national union. There are obviously problems for USI in some Colleges - three of FORUM: Tell us about your FORUM: What sort of decisions does the five Universities in the South are not Involvement In the World University the DIT Inter Student Committee affiliated, and the Unions credibility nationally Service. make? has been damaged by undue influence from AIDAN KERINS: This is an international Third AIDAN KERINS: This year two areas have certain political persuasions, though this has World charity based in Geneva. I sit on the taken up most of our time. The first is the new mellowed somewhat in recent months. While international committee there and am also method of payment of our capitation money my own Union in Bolton Street has not always treasurer of the Irish branch . WUS Ireland to the Unions and the delays that have seen eye to eye wuth the the National Union,l has done considerable work, both north and occurred. Secondly, much time has been south of the border, in the area of creating spent co-ordinating the campaign to prevent student awareness of the problems in the the attempted restrictions being placed on underdeveloped countries. It involves both our Student Shops, which would effectively staff and students in 32 Colleges in Ireland. result in the closure of the shops, cutting off " ... we have been At present it is organising inter college a source of income from the Union and debates in Third World issues. In fact, our putting staff jobs in danger. These are both running far more professional College's team were beaten last week by issues that we could not possibly fight ion as campaigns, more students Car1owRTC. individual Students Unions. In previous years are aware and involved in we would attempted to fight these sort of FORUM: Are you a member of any issues on an individual basis, and without as what we are doing ... " political party? much success as we have been having AIDAN KERINS: No. In fact I have a very recently. We have been running far more strong position on this. I feel it would be professional campaigns, more students are counterproductive for any Union elected aware of what we are doing and are involved officer to be a member of, or show obvious in the decision making processes, and the feel that the current leadership has done a public support for, any political party . All campaigns are gaining more credibility in the good job under very difficult circumstances students should be able to identify with the eyes of both the students and the this year. A comprehensive education defence side of the Unions work, and this authorities. In Bolton Street, for example, we conference was held in St Pats College in identity may be clouded if the leadership is have been using a public billboard opposite Drumcondra, at which representatives from publicly pushing party political lines. the College to very good effect in recent the HEA, NIHE and USI itself, together with months to get our message. accross to the Councillor Pat Carey of our VEC. A detailed FORUM: What are your plans for students and to the general public in the welfare manual has been produced outlining next year? USI? Shops Campaign. necessary information for students in all AIDAN KERINS: Ultimately I plan to return to Colleges. The ballot box campaign has been my studies (sure isn't it the handy life!). I FORUM: Do you see USI as an used to register students in certain parts of have already recieved a 1 yr deferrment from Important body for the DIT Unions the country to vote en masse in the general a course in Queens, and I have already spent to work with? election. Public meetings have also been 2 years as a full time Union officer. But If I AIDAN KERINS: I have always been arranged to ensure that Education is made an decide to stay involved, I'm sure I could rely consistent in my views that we need a strong issue in the election campaign. Things have on the students' support. FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE 10 DIT STUDENT POLL

12.77% WHO YOU WANT 2.92% AS TAOISEACH 2.19% ' . 3.28% . FIRST PREFERENCE (%)

CHAUGHEY

GFITZGERAlD WHO YOU SAID YOU'LL VOTE FOR 10 OMAlLEY DES O'MALLEY • three in ten DIT students support his party FIRST PREFERENCE(%) OlHER Z!l 21.90% Flanna Fail m:J 24.82% Fine Gael fZ1 29.93% Progressive Democrats 0 2.19% Labour • 3.28% Workers Party eJ 2.19% Sinn Fein EXCLUDING OONT KNOWS· I!] :: 2.92% Others Haughey 25.38 FitzGerald 32.58 eJ 12.n% Dont Know O'Malley 31.44 Other 10.61

' BUT SIX IN TEN

FORUM magazine would like to thank all who parti~ed in the 0Clf11)ilation of this poA. We have only included an analysis ol voting intention by party where the nurri>er ol reopondants in the relevant category is large enough to draw meaningful conclusions from such an analysis.

GARRET FITZGERALD • 26% HOW YOU VOTE • want him back as Taoiseach HOW YOU VOTE :·:··.· FFVOTERS PO VOTERS

PARTY PARTY

85 POliCY ~cy

CANDIDATE CANOOATE

HOW YOU VOTE - HOW YOU VOTE - FG VOTERS OVERALL

PARTY PARTY

53.03 57 ~ t4 POliCY POLICY

CANDIDATE CANDIDATE CHARLIE HAUGHEY - six in every ten think he will win PAGE 11 FORUM FEB 1987 - PUTS PDs TOP WITH 30%

8.49% MAIN ISSUES .. MAIN ISSUES -

10.70% ·.···· FFVOTERS PO VOTERS ..::::::::;.·.·

TAXATION TAXATION 8.49%

NAT DEBT NAT DEBT 55 ,17 UNEMPLOYMNT 42.1>7 11 .81% UNEMPLOYMNT

OTHER OTHER WHO YOU THINK WILL WIN MAIN ISSUES - MAIN ISSUES ~ FG VOTERS .;.; OVERALL IB 59.04% FF Govt .·: ;:·;. m1 11.81% FF/PD Coalition TAXATION E2J 8.49% FG/PD Coalition TAXATION

0 10.70% FF Minority Govt ·· .. :·· .· NAT DEBT _ NATOEBT & 1.48% FG Minority Govt 49.84 UNEMPLOYMNT E!l 8.49% Others I 45.61 Dont Know UNEMPLOYMNT OTHER EXPECT A FlANNA FAIL WIN

On the day Garret FitzGerald asked President Hillery to One student in 40 would vote for the Labour Party. The same dissolve the 24th Dail, Forum magazine sought the opinions of amount would support Provisional Sinn Fein. Two students in 450 DIT students on how they would vote in the general every 50 would vote for the Workers Party. Independents and election. others would have the support of one student in every 30. The results showed a DIT student vote that will differ from the national vote as expressed in successive recent opinion polls. THE MAGIC 48% PDs TOP POLL The figures above are for first preference votes, a reasonably accurate guide to a party's chances of forming a government. It Des O'Malley's Progressive Democrats can take most heart is generally accepted that over 48% of the first preference vote from the findings. Three in ten DIT students will vote for them - is likely to translate into an overall Dail majority. just about twice their recent national average. The Coalition's 86 seats in the November '82 election were Fianna Fail, often nationally near the 48 per cent needed for an brought about with 48.8% first preference votes. It put them in a overall majority, drop to less than 22 per cent support among majority voting position, since eroded by defections and DIT students. Fine Gael, fluctuating nationally between 25 and resignations. 40 per cent, are supported by one in four DIT students. The previous Haughey administration, with 47.2% first The Labour Party drop to less than 2.2 per cent in the colleges - preferences, was dependent on the support of Tony Gregory to one voter in every 45. This puts them level with Provisional Sinn stay in office. It had 81 of the 166 seats in the Dail. The 1981 Fein, who if elected will take their seats in the Dail for the first FitzGerald/O'Leary Coalition had 46.35% first preferences. It time since 1957. too was a minority government and fell at the hands of Both Labour and Sinn Fein are behind the Workers Party, who Limerick's Jim Kemmy, the Dail's only ever representative from are supported by 3.3 per cent - one voter in every 30. The the Socialist Labour Party. combined vote for the three socialist parties is just under 8 per Both previous administrations had overall Dail majorities, and cent. both had over 48% first preferences. The 1973 ONE IN EIGHT UNDECIDED Cosgrave Coalition had a 2 seat majority with 48.76% first preferences, and the 1977 Fianna Fail landslide 20 seat majority One in 8 DIT students have yet to decide who to vote for. If under Jack Lynch was fashioned with the aid of 50.3% of they were to vote in the same pattern as those who have national first preference votes. already decided, The Progressive Democrats would be supported by 34.3 per cent - over one third of the DIT students. THE DIT VOTE Fine Gael would have 28.5 per cent support - two out of every While the DIT student vote is obviously not representative of seven- and Fianna Fail25.1 per cent- just over a quarter. national voting intentions, if the election were to be decided in FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE 12

the DIT colleges any number of possible governments could emerge. The DIT vote would leave no party in a majority position, and none of the main parties weak enough to be forced Students finally voting into a minor role in any coalition arrangement. And negotiations independently of their would certainly be lively, if the DIT students expected election results were to be reflected in post election arrangements. parents, say USI FF VOTERS But education must be made an issue The DIT Fianna Fail voters are the most confident of the voters polled. Only 4% accept the possibility of a non-FF government The Forum poll shows young many of whom will themselves people are finally voting after the election. Three in four predict an overall majority for face the dole on graduation. independently of their parents, "No party has given any their party, one in seven a FF/PO coalition, and one in 25 a says Paddy McPolland of USI . indication that they are able to minority Charles Haughey administration. The 4%- again, one in "Only 16% overall say they will tackle this problem" he says. 25 - who did not expect a FF government were simply unsure of vote on party lines· he says. "The solution is a complex one, the outcome. None predicted a FG or a FG/PO governemnt . "This is evidence of a mature intrinsically linked with Over half - 55% - saw unemployment as the main issue facing outlook that would not have investment in people and equality the country. Almost one in 5 felt taxation more important, and existed not too long ago·. of access to education" one in 8 the national debt. 14% saw crime, Northern Ireland or "The poll also shows that Fianna He hopes that the one in eight Fail will not have the credibility in single party government as the main issues. students who have yet to decide the Colleges that they seem to how to vote -a very high figure, Under half - 46% - said they would vote primarily on policy have elsewhere, unless they says Paddy, considering the issues. The remaining 54% were divided evenly - 26% said they start making concrete inevitability of an election for vote on party lines and 26% said they voted primarily for the committments on policy areas". such a long time- will listen candidate involved. He is happy to see carefully to the education policies FG VOTERS unemployment emerging as the of each party before making up main issue with most students, their minds. Fine Gael voters are understandably less optimistic of a return to the cabinet table. Only one in five DIT Fine Gaelers think Garret FitzGerald will return as Taoiseach. Just under 7% feel he will lead a minority FG government, while 13% think it will be a FG/PD caalition. 15% predict a minority FF government, and just under 7% a FF/PD coalition. Just under half - 48.3% - of the DIT Fine Gael voters believe that Fianna Fail will gain an overall majority. 45% saw unemployment as the main issue; 28% the national debt and 26% taxation. Over half - 53% - said they would vote primarily on policy issues. Just over a quarter said they would vote on party lines, and one in five said they would be voting primarily for a candidate. PO VOTERS The outcomes expected by the Progressive Democrat voters Stephen O'Byrnes . PD Policy D~rector Sallyanne Godson · FG Youth Off ocer are perhaps the most interesting of the three, in the context of Young people clearly Results good for possible coalition arrangements. 37% of DIT PO voters - almost Impatient for change, constitutional parties, two in five - expect Des O'Malley to be the next Tanaiste. 21% says PD National says FG National think the PDs will join with Fianna Fail, while only 16% think they Policy Director Youth Officer will join with Fine Gael. One in twelve expect a FF minority government, one in twenty are unsure of the outcome, and, like The Progressive Democrats are The results are good for FG, just under half of the DIT PO voters expect to see a Charles heartened by the poll findings, constitutional parties, says Fine Haughey overall majority. says National Policy Director Gael National Youth Officer Significantly more PO voters saw the national debt as the main Stephen O'Byrnes . Sallyanne Godson. "They clearly show that young Though dissappointed that even issue to be tackled - 40% as opposed to FGs 28% and FFs 12%. people are impatient for change" one student in fifty is prepared to 43% of PO voters said unemployment was most important, 13% he says . vote for a party that will not taxation and 6% crime or Northern Ireland. ·And the fact that the vast repudiate violence, she is And significantly more DIT PO voters said they would be voting majority of PD voters will cast pleased that most students want on policy issues - 85%, or 17 out of every 20, as opposed to their votes on policy issues to work within the democratic FGs 53% and FFs 46%. One in ten PO voters said they would shows we are attracting people system. vote primarily for the candidate involved, and one in twenty said interested in ideas and not party But the apparent support for they would be voting on party lines. or personality politics. This Fianna Fail and the PDs may be reflects our success in misleading, she says. OVERALL developing policy from branch • The 85% of PD voters who say So overall a mixed reaction from DIT students. Most will vote for level up, and it shows that young they vote primarily on policy the Progressive Democrats, most believe that Fianna Fail will people recognise we have the issues may not stay with the form the next government. No comfort for the socialist parties, correct policies". party" she says. particularly Labour, who have a lot of work to do in the Colleges The 50% of PD voters who expect "They could be swayed into a FF win in the election "are to build support. But some consolation for Garret FitzGerald. He voting a different way when other merely reflecting the opinions policies become clear". is still the students first choice as Taoiseach - with just over a expressed in recent national "And the Haughey factor is still quarter of students wanting him to lead the next government he opinion polls" he says." It is more evident - more non-FG voters is ahead of both Des O'Malley and long time rival Charles important to vote for a party than support Garret as Taoiseach than Haughey. • to believe they will win". non-FF voters support Haughey". PAGE l3 FORUM FEB 1987

DIT Students Oppose Section 31 and Womens Clinics Court Ruling

Over 83% of DIT students feel The RepeaiSection 31 Commitee that Sinn Fein members should be have welcomed the findings of interviewed on RTE when it is the poll, which they say are a newsworthy to do so, according clear vindication of their position. to the FORUM poll. And this figure "This insidious piece of legislation rises to 88.2% in cases where the operates against the wishes of SF member is an elected public the public" says Nicky Kelly. Nicky Kelly of the Repeal Section 31 Commineo wnh Christy Moore representative. "When one takes into consideration the recent Sunday And PRO Declan Turnbull says forgotten" he says, "that acceding to the International The poll also showed a clear lndependent!IMS and NIHE thatln the final week before the Federation ofJournalists the only majority of DJT students -almost Dublin polls, the trend is that right election an extra effort should be other countries in the western 83% - opposed to the recent court accross the spectrum of society made to make section 31 an world with such restrictive state ruling preventing womens clinics people oppose this state issue amongst the candidates by censorship are South Africa and from providing information on censorship on RTE and want it anyone who values the right of Turkey". abortion services. removed". free speech. "It should never be

C. D. V.E. What? Over 20% of DIT students do not know what the CDVEC Is, according to the FORUM survey. And almost 6% do not know what the DIT is. The next edition of FORUM will Include a comprehensive feature on both of these committees and all of your questions will be answered.

Pat Montague • Labour Youth Officer Brtan McDonald . S1nn Fe•n PRO Labour rebuilding Poll reflects move Fianna Fail vote will Unemployment more college branches, to new right, says be much higher, important at doors, says Lab National Sinn Fein Publicity says FF Youth says Workers Party Youth Officer Officer Education Officer Youth Organiser

The Labour party is to continue The FORUM poll reflects the The Flanna Fail vote on election More people at the doorsteps are its process of building and move to the new right and the day will be significantly higher saying that unemployment is the expanding branches in colleges superficial attraction of the PDs than the 22% indicated in the main issue in this election that and universities, says party to young people, according to FORUM poll, says the party's are saying so in the FORUM poll, National Youth Officer Pat Sinn Fein Publicity Officer Brian Youth Education Officer Mary according to Workers Party Montague. Strong branches McDonald. O'Shea. Youth Organiser Feargal Ross. already exist in TCD, UCD, NIHE, "It is a sad indication of the But she is pleased that over 70% "The poll shows a swing that St Pats and some DIT colleges. political niaivity in Ireland and it of students feel that Flanna Fail started in the late seventies and "We feel that our position shows that we have a lot of work will form the next government, has continued since" he says. nationally, and even in the to do in the colleges if we are to and alligns herself with the 60% "Students are becoming distinctly colleges, is higher than that get our message accross to who believe it will be a single more middle class and this is reflected in the poll" he says. students" he says. party majority government. reflected in the votes for the right "The Labour Party traditionally "The established parties have "It is significant" she says, "that wing parties - excluding the don't have a stronger showing in an shown how little they care about only 42% of PD voters feel that knows more than 9 out of 10 election situation, where the education in recent years, and unemployment is the main issue students say they will be voting candidates name as well as the private sector economics will facing the country> We would for right wing parties, and by the party name is on the ballot paper, certainly not help create a better see the priorities differently, fact that 1 in 4 seethe national and where people know that they third level education system". especially for students who may debt as the most important issue are actually electing somebody to It is of course easier, he says, for spend 3 or 4 years in College and in the elkection·. the Dail to represent them". the established parties to get then face the dole or emigration". The poll mirrors other surveys in He feels that the party's new their message accross "when "We will be making a concious placing the Workers Party ahead more independent stand on such they can take a decision to attempt to build our organisation of the Labour Party and Sinn Fein , issues as coalition will help bring prevent us from putting our case within the DIT colleges despite he says. He is confident this will many supporters back to the to the people on television on the problems of a transient translate into extra Dail seats in party. radio. student population". the Election. FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE 14

CAPITATION CHAOS What is WHY THE NEW STUDENTS UNION FUNDING SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK capitation The new capitation structure set up this no-one there to oversee this system. We £1,000 than a DIT committee grant me money? year was meant to herald a new era for have been trying for months to get a £2,000." clubs and societies in the DIT. Instead, it meeting with both the Central Sport and has been a fiasco with some clubs the Central Cultural council in orderJ·ust Aidan Kerins views the development of Capitation money is how the receiving little or no funds and others to 9et figures agreed. But as the EC the DIT more acutely, "Everyone wants Students Unions and College claiming the system is basically unfair. claim the system is "thei~s· they insist to see the DIT develop and expand, Clubs and Societies are funded. FORUM reports on the background to on calling the meetings. The result is especially 1n the area of sport. But it can £32 per full time student and £5 .this issue and outlines the DIT Students that so far nothing has happened" not be done by antagonising people . Unions' alternative. What we need is an effective but flexible per part time student is collected Aside from being very bureaucratic the system which distributes clubs and for the Unions by the VEC along The new capitation structure introduced new capitation system is also attempting societies' funds and at the same time with tuition fees. this year isn't really that new. It actually to put together a structure which does secures enough resources for DIT-wide arises from a number of recommendation not have any practical basis. All the sport activities. I believe that the funds in the report on Student Services capitation money for clubs and societies clubs and societies get should be based What was the adopted by the CDVEC in June 1985. is now "pooled" 1nto two central sources: on local capitation and an individual The report recommended that clubs and one for sport and one for societies. Thus Union's ability to pay." old system? societies be more directly funded and Bolton Street sports clubs have been that a series of local and central councils competing with other colleges for funds So what are the Student Unions 1. The capitation money was govern their affairs. The idea was to and vice versa. This is despite the fact proposing and what are its advantages? distributed to each Students give clubs and societies more control that there are more clubs and societies in Firstly they want to see clubs and over their activities and a measure of Bolton Street than any other colleQe and societies allocations made as a Union in proportion to the amount autonomy from the Students Union. The that Bolton Street Students Un1on is percentage of local gross capitation of ~ttudents they had. system IS not oriQinal, says Students well abe to generate funds of its own to money. They say this is a simpler method­ 2. Each Students Union decided Union administrative officer Eamon give to clubs and societies. everyone knows how much capitation is internally how much was to be Connor. In many colleges sports or and therefore how much clubs and given to Clubs and Societies, and athletic councils receive a percentage of Essentially what is happening is that the societies should get - and it also means Student Union funds. larger blocks of soc1eties (like Bolton that local clubs only compete against how much spent on Union Street and Rathmines) are claiming for themselves for funds and not with other activities. One difference with the DIT system is substantially larger funds than they colleges. The . Students Unions that not only is it to operate on a multi­ would normally get and this works recommend that the minimum perceQtage site basis bu~ in the absence of a against the smaller colleges. be 35%. This is 8% higher than that What is the properly constituted DIT, it must also "It's the smaller colleges who are now agreed at present and at current levels operate for five separate and distinct subsidising the larger ones ", says Karen would mean a total sports/societies new system? Students Unions. A second difference is O'Sullivan, President of the College of budget of over £80,000. that, by and large, it doesn't work. Catering Students Union. "We are all 1. The running costs of DITSU for developing the DIT but sure~ not at Money for DIT sports activities would Ltd - the company set up by the Aidan Kerins, President of Bolton the expense of each local college. come from this percentage of funds. Street Students Union blames this on This could be levied from each sports DIT Students Unions to co­ two factors. "Firstly, the system itself The new system is also attacked for and cultural coumcil on a per capita basis. ordinate staffing and other is inherently bad. ltis very bureaucratic trying to set up a DIT-wide structure To help develop sport in the institute as matters - are calculated and and cumbersome. Local clubs have to for clubs and societies, when such a opposed to merely administering money taken from the gross capitation it is proposed that a Standing Advisory fight for their funds at two different strJcture does not exist in the rest of figure. levels; local and central. In many respects the Institute. This has alienated many Committee on sport be set up. local clubs have lost rather than gained students from the DIT concept, as the 2. Of the balance, 2% goes to power under this system. The second focal point of all other activity is the A second proposal from the Students the Student Hardship fund. factor is lack of resources. Under the local Union and College. As one Catha! Union is that all of the unions fixed cost­ 3. A minimum of 15% goes to the Public Service Embargo the VEC is Brugha Street student put ~. "I would wages, honorariums etc. be identified as Central Sports Council. crippled for staff. There is simply much rather my local Union give me a block grant payable to D.I.T.S.U. Ltd. 4. A minimum of 15% goes to the The Students Union have already Central Cultural Society. centralised this area of activity through D.I.T.I.S.C. and this would be a 5. A minimum of 40% goes to tlhe recognition of this fact by the V.E.C. H Students Union on a per capita also represents the unions believe, a more basis. efficient use of their limited resourses. 6. The balance of 28% is distributed by the Students Finally the Students Unions are proposing that the balance of capitation Services Council. monies be then distributed to each union on a per capita basis. "We believe this new structure represents a better use How does it of our resources and indeed of the institutes resources" says Aidan Kerins, work? ·we have simplified the administration structures, and as we are for that - that Take sport for instance (the same seems sensible. We also want to system applies for cultural concentrate the lnsititutes' resources on societies). In each college, all the developing spcirt rather than simply distributing money". sports clubs form a local sports council, to which they all submit When will this new structure be set up? budgets. These local councils The Students Unions are intent on compile the budgets and apply tor bringing forward a proposal to the next funds to a Central Sports Council. Student Services Committee to have the The Central Council compiles tlhe capital structure amended along the lines local applications and in turn of the above proposals. However as many of the people on the Student applies to the Student Services Services Council help draft the existing Council for funds. The Central capitation structure the Students Union Cpuncil gets the money, gives it will face an uphill struggle. For many to the local councils, and they people, particularly clubs and societies - that struggle will be of dire necessity if distribute it to their local clubs. the capitation chaos of this year is to be be avoided in future.

DIT Students Un~on Admin istrative Officer Eamon Connor PAGE 15 FORUM FEB 1987 MEGASTORE MANAGER ... ,:: AT.. TWEI('1TY·. SE.v····· EN...... :··::::::::::' ...... I" .<:, ..

Michael Nugent talka to Umerlck bom Dennot H.,rman, General M.,ager of the recenUy opened Dublin Virgin Megaatore

AN INTERVIEW WITH DERMOT HANRAHAN =:::'.,

Every week a chart comes out showing The Megastore has a fulltime staff of 45. None arrived. In 1981 he was assistant manager In the relative positions saleswlse of each were selected on the basis of one Interview- at Moons retail store In Galway. He was In charge of the ninety VIrgin stores. In the first least two and often three Interviews were of hiring, firing, staff training and basically week of operation the Dublin megastore followed by a detailed Induction course. making sure the staff were happy. He had 120 came third out of ninety. It wasonlyopen Outside psychological evaluation was used staff answering to him. He was 22 then. for two days that week. It had sold more for some management candidates. The result He's married with two children, he windsurfs on In those two days than 87 other VIrgin Is a tightly knit team proud of their work and fiercely loyal to the company they work for. Lough Derg, he's a member of Mensa (the high stores had In the full six-day week. IQ society ), he enjoys board games and Dermot Hanrahan enjoyed that day's puzzles or a "good tricky discussion over a staff meeting. few plnts".He has achieved more In his nine year career than do most people In five times "When we told the staff, there was a lot of noise that time. Those nine years hold many and cheering and excited expletives that took "If all you're achieving is a valuable lessons for anyone hoping to make it two or three minutes to quieten down again. It salarythenyou'rewasting In business. The key, he believes, Is enjoying was the same kind of buzz you get when a his job. football team scores a goal - the very same your time ... " reaction. They were delighted about It-really "If all you're achieving Is a salary then you're delighted. And personally delighted-because wasting your time" he says "You're just they knew they had personally contributed to sacrificing one third of your life to the success. pay for a social life. You only really live for about a quarter of your life. By enjoying my "We have a very high standard of employee. "If you Insult Virgin to any of our staff'says job, I get a feeling of satisfaction from the time Anyone you see on the shop floor who Is Dermot Hanrahan, "they'll react· they'll take It I get up till I go to bed. I live for at least half my technically a sales assistant also has a lot of personally. If you Insult the civil service life. And Being aware of that helps me cope responsibility for buying and pricing stock to a civil servant, he'll probably join In the attack." with disappointments and problems when that they wouldn't have In another store. So they occur." they share In the satisfaction, usually The Richard Branson empire has finally come reserved for management, of knowing that to Ireland. The Dublin Mega store, on the old Dermot Hanrahan did his leaving Cert In their decisions are contributing to the McBirney's site on Aston Quay, Is open two Crescent College Limerick in 19n.Hisparents growth of the company. And they see It In months. It Is managed by Dermot Hanrahan were delighted when he joined Allied Irish practice every time they sell something they from Limerick. He Is 27years old. The latest of Banks as a teller .He had the proverbial "sound have bought or priced" the Branson whizz-kid management team has secure pensionable position" and could FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE 16 eventually end up managing a bank. confined to a rigid scale based solely on years One of his first management responsibilities He spent two years balancing tills in Ennis, of service. Dermot felt he was working hard, was to take charge of the Christmas County Clare, and a year touring local villages becoming a better employee. He was taking Decoration dept in Todds of Limerick. He In the AlB "WanderlyWagon" -a self contained night classes in business studies In Limerick picked a good crew, and doubled the mobile bank that he found very educational NIHE. He felt his extra effort and workrate turnover from the previous year . He and "one way of getting fairly well known should be reflected In his salary, but he was was happy with the recognition his throughout an entire county". But he never getting to the penny the same as anyone who work got, even from those that had woke up In the morning full of the joys of the had joined the same year, and less than sneered at the Idea of selecting a banking day ahead. Each branch had an anyone who had joined a year earlier. 'good crew' for a Christmas decoration dept. If you have the The banks wouldn't change so Dermot did. In 1980 he applied for a job as a management trainee with the Switzer group. His parents were less than lm pressed ,and hIs friends were puzzled. Nobody leaves the bank, he was told. "You'll have few problems "Youfeelyou'readvancing You don't get sacked In the bank, he was told. with people if they feel your company's position, But he was offered the job, and he took it. good about what they're not just maintaining it ... " "The retail trade is very exciting" he says. "Its . " full of buying and selling, wheeling and d omg ... dealing, and colourful characters. If you have an Idea and you succeed in bringing it to fruition you get recognition for what you've done· you feel that you are advancing your Operations Manual • a several volume company's position In the world of commerce, encyclopedia of exactly how to do just not just maintaining It like you do In the bank. proper people around you the results will about everything that had to be done. And you can see the results of your effort In follow, says Dermot. pounds and pence at the end of each day." "It was soul destroying" he explains. "The After a year he was moved to Moons of Galway banks have very high entry requirements • "Lets say you buy something for the where he was assistant manager in charge of they want the best. Then having supposedly company. Then it's sold and you see it 120 staff. He was responsible for recruitment, got the best, they present them with a going out the door in a plastic bag. And disciplinary procedures and most staff set of very rigid procedures, to be you know the res a profit element of, say matters. At 22 he was younger than most of followed to very minute detail, in £2, on that item. Then you know that's £2 his staff. Was management difficult? every area of banking life". the company has made simply and solely "You'll have few problems with people If they because you made a decision to buy that "The whole environment stifled any degree of feel good about what they're doing" he says, particular item, at that particular price, enterprise. A sense of patience was nurtured. "if they know what's happening, know their You keep your nose clean, stay out of from that particular supplier, and that responsibilities and know that they won't be trouble, don't do anything controversial, maybe that five extra minutes you spent eclipsed by a superior when they do stay long enough and you'll eventually be haggling on price turned what would something well, but will get the recognition promoted. But by that time • at least 7 or 8 have been a £1 profit Into a £2 profit ....•• they deserve. When staff feel that way, years • most people had the desire for its a very concrete feedback from your they develop a commitment to the company. promotion squeezed out of them". actions that you'll find In almost no other When the company does well, they see it as a reflection of their own effort. They start to trade. Its what keeps the excitement Salary was another contentious Issue. It was work as a team." going on a day to day basis••... " There will be problems, he accepts. Regardless of the atmosphere created by management there will be people who are more committed to having a good social life than to the progress of the company. This is fine, he says, and he actively encourages his staff to enjoy themselves, as long

"If you have an idea and you bring ittofruition, you get recognition for what you've done ... "

as It doesnt effect their work. Some people feel they're on time If they get In at ten past nine the next morning. But If customers are Inside your shop at 9 oclock, then Its perfectly reasonable to expect staff to be at their places of work at 9 oclock to servethem. So if someone has a very PAGE17FORUMFEB1987 • independent nature you might have to curb It slightly."

Did he find It hard to fire people?

"No. It Is obviously difficult to make a tough decision concerning someone you have a high regard for, or that you consider to be a friend, but normally If you have to let someone go It Is after exhaustive discussions, warnings, advice sessions... you're in a position where it will benefit nobody to let things continue."

"The time I feel most upset Is when a perfectly good member of staff with a good track record Jets himself or herself down completely out of the blue and Is Involved In some gross misconduct, such as staff theft the next meeting. when someone Is foolish enough to They provide the feedback that is so make a mistake like that and throw vital to a successful business." everything away, that's upsetting." "No punches are pulled at these meetings" says Dermot Hanrahan. The Virgin group operates In a manner Everyone In Virgin gets feedback. A that encourages regular and full preprinted appraisal form Is used to communication between staff and score staff - and management - under management. A shop council Is a series of headings. The idea Is that elected from the staff at large on a " Feedback is vital ... " everyone knows how they are doing - regular basis. Each section what areas they are / doing well in, security, office staff, record staff, video staff etc - Is represented. The and what areas they need to improve council meets with Dermot Hanrahan ln. and discusses everything from recent achievements and plans to staff "Everybody needs to be told you're problems. The meeting also decides doing a bloody · good job or you're who Is to do what between then and doing a lousy job" says Dermot.

• .. lets say you buy sorrething for the

Richard Branson has certainly done so. It's rare to see someone get so far with so few enemies. "Branson has built up such a competent team around him that he can afford to "Branson makes sure we devote much of his time to public "Always follow through - retain our image as a relations exercises" says Dermot. "He there's nothing worse makes sure we retain our Image as a company ... " young ambitious vibrant company. than empty words " He Is probably the person I would most look on as a model, while I would never hope to be equally successful."

Though he doesn't cross the atlantic In speedboats or balloons, Dermot reflected In his membership of got to communicate." Hanrahan does windsurf - "the poor Mensa • the society for the top 2% of the population In IO."It's just another statistic. It's nice to know" he says. "Most people know their shoe size and their shirt size so why not their 10? And It's not an elite group - 2% may sound very small but In Ireland t.,at's about 70,000 people - enough to fill a city the size of Limerick".

Politically, Dermot admires few people. Noel Browne Is one • 'he carried through on what he believed In" • and Des O'Malley another - "he's not afraid to do the unpopular thing and he's proved It". He wouldn't, however, rush out and Join the Progressive Democrats, who "may become a 'yuppie' party of the educated middle classes".

Flanna Fall, he says, have put their Integrity In doubt In recent years, and the Labour Party are "living a lie - the poorest example I've seen of what a socialist party should be". Fine Gael, he feels, have the right Ideas but lack the ability to carry them through. Which brings us to Dermot's closing comment the three traits he feels most crucial to success In business management.

"Ability to listen, ability to delegate, and ability to follow through" he says. "They are the three traits I most try to nurture In myself and my staff • though I ·must admit I sometimes don't live up to the Ideal myself. It's the easiest thing In the world to take decisions and forget about them, to have fantastic plans and do npthlng about them - you've got to follow through, and be seen to follow through, whether your decision Is good or bad. There's nothing worse than empty words saying we're going to do this and then never actually doing It"

Dermot Hanrahan PAGE 19 FC'RUM FEB 1987

Oonagh Crimmins, Daniel Pedreschi and Carla Cerasi of the Cat hal Brugha Stroot Trip Comm~too ORGANISING THE AMSTERDAM TRIP FORUM talks to students from the College of Catering Amsterdam Trip Committee

The Dublin College of Catering has that it deserves by those not which allows a greater flexibility in the seen a lot of student activity so far involved. type of input required by the part this year, culminating in the week this This is particularly so for the Cathal time people. This feature looks at magazine is published, when over Brugha Street students union, all of some of the people and work 100 Cathal Brugha Street students whom are part time. In most Colleges involved in the organisation of the have gone to Amsterdam more than there is at least a full time President, Amsterdam trip 1987. six times that number have been at the annual Graduates Ball, arranged and organised each year by existing Forming the Committee .. students. The students union itself has also Planning first started for the College send a delegation to been hard at work - a new student Amsterdam trip last november, when Hotelympia, an international hotel shop has opened in the college the Students Union organised a and catering event. It is a huge which is proving very succesful and committee involving representatives event. Almost everyone in the the union executive generally have from the union executive, the class college goes. That happens every been working to stabilise the reps, and the general student body. second year. Every other year, we credibility of the union in the eyes of The committee that emerged organise an alternative trip. It could the students and authorities. included Daniel Pedreschi, Carla be to Amsterdam, Paris, Edinburgh The amount of work and effort put in Cerasi, Oonagh Cremins, Colin Duff ... a committee selects possible on a part time voluntary basis by the and Maura Sweeney. venues and the students at a organisers of the Amsterdam trip, the But what exactly did they have to do? general meeting vote on which trip dress dance committee, and the Committee chairman Daniel Cerasi they will go on. The committee then students union executive may not explains. sets about organising the trip itself often be appreciated to the extent "Every two years the students of this and arranging sponsorship where FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE 20 helpful, explains Daniel, as some students not sure that people not involved fully realise might not have been able to afford the the amount of time involved - every lunch individual passport charge or may not have hour, almost every evening, a lot of late otherwise needed a passport. night~ ··: but in the end, it was worth doing. And 11 did takeless effort and time than next The committee also arranged a listing of year's trip will". recommended places to visit in Amsterdam, and also hired two canal boats for sightseeing Next years trip is to the next Hotelympia. It will purposes. But it was not, stress the probably involve an overall budget of nearer committee, a regimented trip. £40,000 than this years £10,000. This year, says Daniel, is really just a warm up for "It's really a break after Christmas for the students to get the feel of the whole thing and students" explains committee secretary Carla prepare for next year, when there will be a Cerasi. "Most catering students work over the much larger committee involved and much christmas holidays, and particularly this year more to be done. Cathal Brugha Street principal Bob Lawlor when there were more jobs available than students to fill them it meant that virtually So will Daniel and Carla be involved again next every Cathal Brugha Street catering student year? New Selection was working this Christmas. The trip is very useful in that contexr. "Hopefully not" says Carla. "I am studying System for Cathal Tourism and my course is only a one year one, And more students are going on this trip than so I should be qualified and working by then•. Brugha Street ? The Tourism course covers public relations, in previous years. For the last 'alternative' trip The City of Dublin VEC is considering airline regulations, ticketing - everything there was one coach arranged, with about 45 a revision of the selection system to connected with work in the tourist industry students going. This year 106 went, and even deal with courses which have large whether you want to end up in an airline, a at that numbers had to be limited. The extra numbers of applicants and include an travel agency or a tourist office. "And we are numbers carried with them an increase in the interview as part of the selection regularly told by Mr O'Connell, a course burden of work on the organisers. procedure, Cathal Brugha Street lecturer, that everyone on the course has Principal Bob Lawlor told staff and "It was very time consuming" says Daniel. "We always been successful in finding relevant students in the December edition of work". were first approached by the students union College Broadsheet, an internal last November. We then had to plan our College of Catering news sheet. Daniel will probably be involved again next campaign, get the rest of the committee The system in use this year caused year, but not as chairman. "I am studying organised and produce a preliminary report of problems at the start of this Hotel Management, and will be in my third year potential places to visit. That had to be academic year, he said. People were next year, so I won't be able to devote as brought before the students and when they called for interview on a Leaving Cert much time as I could this year to the trip. But decided where to go, we had to make all the Points basis, and course start-ups all of this years committee who are still around practical arrangements for the trip itself". were delayed by up to two weeks will certainly be available for any advice or because of the large amount of help we can give to next year's committee, Carla agrees that it was time consuming. "I'm interviews Involved. even if we aren't all on it". PAGE 21 FORUM FEB 1987 JOBS FOR THE BOYS

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A look at the work of the Employment Equality Agency

If you were to select a name at random Equality Agency to help ensure that this because of their sex. The law sets down from the DIT admissions computer in does not continue to be the case. Since certain individual rights in this area and Mount Street, the chances are it would be 1977 it has been operating as an we help ensure that these rights are a male name. With the exception of the independent body promoting equal upheld." teacher training sector, the same opportunities between the sexes in the situation exists accross the board in Irish The EEA brings out a quarterly third level education - Universities, newsletter, Equality News. The first NIHEs, Regional Technical Colleges. .. in any group of 100 engineers, edition came out last November. It More men than women go on to third level outlined some of the successes of the education in Ireland. surveyors and architects, Agency since its formation. One of these 97 are likely to be men .. is getting corporate bodies involved This imbalance is matched in the area of actively in the fight for equality in jobs. In a 1981 survey the only Irish jobs employment. Six organisations - Aer whe there were more women than men workforce. But what exactly do they do? Rianta, AnCO, ESB, IDA, SFADCO and were textile and clothing, telephone Kevin Foley, Information Officer with the Bank of Ireland - have now got a member operators, clerks, typists, shop EEA, explains. of staff working full time on formulating assistants, waitresses, maids, cleaners, and implementing equal opportunities hairdressers, teachers and nurses. Less "We're here to encourage employers to programmes in their organisations. than one in ten company directors or positively consider girls and women for accountants and less than one in four non-traditional job areas, and vice versa" "This is a very significant development" medical practioners or university he says. "Our staff can help employers says Kevin Foley. "We cannot win the lecturers were women. The figures were and Trade Unions to formulate policies fight for equal opportunities simply by much worse for professions associated and develop programmes to ensure that punishing people who deviate from the with some DIT courses. In any group of this happens. We can also act as an law. It is vital that employers themselves one hundred engineers, surveyors and advice body for anyone who feels they are involved in the campaign, and that architects, ninety seven are likely to be have been discriminated against in the they are taking positive action, as men. workplace because of their sex, or opposed to merely passively supporting anyone who feels they have been the ideal. We would recommend that all It is the responsibility of the Employment discriminated against in a job interview unions and management bodies jointly FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE 22 undertake a review of employment just accepting the principle of equal definition these courses, being run by the opportunities for women in their opportunities and not doing anything Vocational Education Committee, fall into organisations". about it" he says. "And it need not this category. We would be encouraging necessarily be an altruistic motivation on the VEC and the College Authorities, just But what would such a review involve? the part of the management. We have as we encourage AnCO, Cert, and other "There are several stages" explains Kevin found that the morale and motivation of all such bodies, to look critically at what Foley. "Firstly, a survey should be employees increases when a company they are doing in terms of actively undertaken of the composition of the promoting the principle of equality. They workforce, and an examination should be should ask themselves are we doing made of employment practices - formal enough to get the mesage accross that and informal - in such areas as " .. there is very little point in the more traditionally male courses are recruitment, selection tests, promotion, haphazardly approaching the open to females and vice versa, or are we reasons for leaving, job evaluation, 1ssue or, worse still, just in fact discouraging young people from collective agreements, childcare facilities accepting the principle of equal doing courses and following career paths and so on. This would help to highlight which they could be very much suited those areas in the organisation which opportunities and not doing for". inhibit women in their career aspirations. " anything about it .. " "Now, we're not saying that Colleges Following this, says Kevin, the should necessarily set aside a certain information should be thoroughly takes such steps, and overall efficiency percentage of places on courses for girls analysed, and targets and objectives and productivity is increaed. The overall or anything like that, but what we are should be set to eliminate any image of the company is also enhanced, saying is positively encourage girls to discrimination that exists and to help as more and more people generally are apply for the courses and then go through combine career and family becoming aware of the importance of the normal procedures of interviews, the responsibilities for employees. Progress equality of opportunity between the normal competitive criteria and select the should be monitored regularly at the end sexes". best persons fbr the course, but ensure of each stage so that, if they are needed, at the initial stage that both males and corrective measures can be taken. It is And the same issues as apply to females are equally encouraged to apply. vital, says Kevin, that the issue is employment generally also apply to I would think that the case is as strong for approached in a positive and structured courses such as those in the DIT a VEC staff person to be responsible for manner. Colleges, says Kevin. "We are governed ensuring that equal opportunities exist in by the Employment Equality act of 1977" the Colleges as there is for such a person "There is very little point in haphazardly he explains. • This act provides for equal in AnCo, the IDA, Aer Rianta, the ESB ·Or approaching the matter or, worse still, access to vocational training. Almost by the Bank of Ireland".

AGENCY EOUALI Y AGENCY

At the launch of the EEA newsletter Equality News were (left to right) Mai Monaghan, Vice Chairperson EEA, Kevin Foley, Information Officer, Sylvia Meehan, Chairperson and Margaret Walsh, a member of the EEA board .. PAGE 23 FORUM FEB 1987

:·.

ME? FixiNG TO ME? FLYING TO NEW YORK AS NEW YORK AS But What "LAsf SPRING, IF ANYONE ANAERLlNGUS AN AERLINGUS TOLD ME I'D BE FLYING TO HosrEss? STEWARD? NEW YORK AS AN AER LINGUS AIR HOSI'FSS I WOULDN'T does the EEA HAVE BELIEVED IT!" actually do ...

The Employment Equality Agency was set up YEs,You.k_ under the Employment Equality Act, 1977, to !!§: enforce the provisions of the Act, and work towards the elimination of discrimination in employment and the promotion of equal opportunites between the sexes. It has the power to hold formal investigations into cases of discrimination, and to require any person to furnish evidence and attend hearings to give evidence. It can also seek a High Court injunction in respect of persistent discrimination, and The Aer Llngus advertisements of October 1977 and January 1978 bring proceedings against discriminatory advertisements, pressure on persons to -:·.:·: ... discriminate, and a general policy of discrimination. lOOK OUT, ITS THE E~A Discrimination can be direct, as when a person is treated less favourably than a person of the other sex or a different marital Case Study: the 1977 EEA investigation status, or indirect, when a person is obliged to do something which iis not essential to the into Aer Lingus recruitment ads job but which a substantially greater proportion of persons of the other sex or of a different marital status can do. In 1977 the Employment Equality .. inflightpersonal services could be Agency initiated a formal done more effectively by women Under the Act, it is unlawful for an employer investigation into the use of and there was a marked customer to discriminate against you on grounds of sex recruitment advertisements by Aer . preferehce on the American line or marital status: • in the arrangements made for recruitment, ungus. .. the intake of males would that is interview criteria, and the instructions Tt)ey found that advertisements necessitate a re-organisation of the given t~ an employment agency · published in the national appropriate buildings. • in the terms of employment newspapers on 5th and 9th of • by refusing or deliberately omitting to offer October "indicated an intention to youthejob Despite requests from the agency • in the provision of training and work discriminate" against men applying to desist from discriminating, Aer experience for the job of steward. This lingus proceeded with the • in work counselling contravened the principles of the recruitment of women to the • in regrading or the classification of jobs Equality Employment Act, i977, and advertised posts. The ensuing • in the opportunities for promotion on 15th January 1978 Aer lingus • in· dismissals, disciplinary measures, investigation resulted in the forced redundancies, lay-offs, and short-time was forced to advertise for "Air change of policy. On 19th of June working hostesses and stewards''. 1978 Aer lingus told the agency that • by having discriminatory rules or 76 of 1,51 0 female applicants were instructions. Prior to the investigation Aer lingus offered employment as a result of had argued to the agency that it was Employment agencies cannot discriminate in the January 1978 advertisement. the way they provide their services; trade exempt . from the Act because the Another advertisement in May unions or professional bodies cannot duties 'of air hostess involved resulted in 12 of 1,400 male discriminate by refusing to let you join; and "personal services''. At a meeting on applicants and 77 of 2,300 female advertisements which use descriptions such 21st October i977 between applicants being offered as "bricklayer" or "salesman• without making representatives of the company and it clear in some way that both men and women employment with an additional 5 may apply, will be taken as indicating an the chairperson of the Agency, Mrs males and 41 females being placed intention to discriminate. It is also unlawful to Sylvia Meehan, who had first drawn on reserve panels for possible put pressure on another person to attention to the possible illegality of future employment. discriminate unlawfully. the advertisement, Aer lingus stated Anyone who believes they have been discriminated against can take their case to its defence: Satisfied with the evident changes the Employment Equality Agency, who will • the policy to employ girls had been in policy, the agency concluded the offer advice on how to proceed. in operation for years investigation. FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE l4 Open FORUM

Manklnd t~day has a standard of world crude oil reserves have living many times higher than pre thus far been assessed at 750 industrial revolution day.s . This milion barrels. can in part be attributed to We now know that the world James Watt's · steam engine, consumes eleven thousand milion tonnes of coal equivalent mechanisation, the petrol engine, the diesel engine and per ar'lrium, and that the energy electrification. Up to then, world mix is made up as follows - population was kept in check - Petroleum 45%, coal 31%, the first billion mark was reached natural gas 22%, hydro nudear 2%. The consumption is in 1810 AD. The second billion distributed between was added in one hundred and twenty years, the third billion manufacturing (50%), transport took thirty more years and the (30%) and domestic (20%). fourth billion a mere fifteen. World coal consumption is then With such an increase in world approximately 3.5 thousand population came a great demand million tonnes per annum. on world natural resources. Great food production and the With the structure and behaviour need to satisfy the desires and ?f our world population, taking wants of man could only be tnto account contraceptives, achieved by greater technology modern attitudes, the nudear and the use of vast amounts of family and world governments our natural resources. The positive action, the population will continue to increase and will energy needed to power this double within the next forty industrial orientated productive years. The estimated life of our process was up to recent times coal reserves are reduced to one in the form of fossil fuels and THE CASE thousand years - this is provided hydroelectric stations. the energy mlx remains unchanged. With crude oll History tells . us that this reserves set at 750 million physiocralic cycle was altered barrels and world annual when man discovered fire and consumption presently running hence started to use these fossil FOR at 20.5 thousand million barrels fuels, The desire for comfort and per annum, and with world improving his way of life led man population increasing to double to use fire in his everyday life. NUCLEAR·.·. over the forty year span, there is · Man was making pottery as early only a twenty year supply at as 5000 BC, smelting and best. casting bronze and using iron as REACTORS This could of course be extended early as 1500 BC. We know this with conservation, and with from the .artifacts left by the By Noel O'Hara bringing in production all the Shang in China and those of known non-commercial wells ancient Egypt and India. which have been capped over Certainly iron was being used in the innovations of man. These reasonable limits the extent of the last four decades. We could Europe from the Halstatt culture man-made inventions created a these valuable natural deposits of course follow the South in 700 BC and was brought to demand for more steel to build within their boundaries. Experts African SASL and distil our shale- Britain by the Celts as early as more machines, and for more from every discipline - whether this is sensible but 550 'BC. There is evidence of coal and oil to run these for greed, exploitation or uneconomical unless you have Roman based bloomerles in or on machines. conservation - have lent their plenty of indiginous fuel for the the north east Yorkshire Dales. process. We know that coke was used in One must remember that the use lronmakirig in 1745 AD. Hthere Is any Issue you feel strongly about, and you feel of oil in the production of energy has only surpassed coal since · What all of this suggests is that you can put forward a coherent argwnent supporting 1967, and that this in part is all of the forementioned must of your position, put It In Wl1dng and send It to because oil is easier to handle (ie its nature have neccessitated Open Forum, FORUM magazine, 41 Mounqoy Square, Dublin 1 less labour intensive) and the destruction of the forests because we were able to exploit and the consumption 'of the black gold at ridiculously low convenient surface and ore prices from a Middle East third deposits. The greater the giant 'industry' energy and expertise towards world mentality ~ a condition It was the beginning of the end of grew, the greater its appetite to this end. which cannot long continue. the natural process of be satisfied. As a consequence of these The deposits of oil and coal deposition, an end to the endeavours, world reserves of follow the same geological physiocratic cycle of natural Common sense tells us that fossil fuels have been assessed locations, hence in most cases deposition and of a period which these fossil fuels - coal and oil • and mapped, and reasonably the countries with coal also have had its origins about 350 million are finite commodities. This has accurately at that. Deep bore oil. The distribution is widespread in effect aroused concern holes on land to a depth of 4.8 years ago, so the industrial West were amongst governments and miles, and in the sea from exploiting the Middle East while The real demand for fossil fuel compelled them for political platforms since it was made leaving their own known and coal started with iron smelting purposes and their own possible in the 1940s, have anticipated reserves untapped. and was dramatically economic planning and well­ helped us assess world coal accelerated with the advent of being to ascertain within reserves at 7 billion tonnes, and This was recognised and the PAGE 25 FORUM FEB 1987 cartel was founded some 22 general reasons is a non-starter the European Atomic Energy A test of economic efficiency of years ago. The price of oil went when we are concerned with the Community- Brittain, USA, USSR nuclear power generated up 2500%, shattering the need for a significant energy and Japan all working towards electricity was carried out in contributor. It is eminently towards the development and 1980-1981 by ihe GEGB at the industrial world's economies suited to the individual consumer construction of a fusion reactor. Hinkley Pont AGR in the Bristol and causing a massive for heating domestic water The temperature required to fuse Channel, and the results showed transition of wealth from requirements. deuterium and tritium is about a cost of 1.45 pence per kilowatt West to Midle East, with allits 100 million degrees celcius. One hour. A similar test was carried unpalatable consequences. Wave Power is a much more can see the magnitude of this out on the conventional coal interesting prospect, but the undertaking and the task in hand - burning electricity generating The world's oil supply and engineering requirements to the realisation of which seems to station at Drax 1, and the cost distribution is controlled by overcome and withstand the be somewhat in the distant per killowatt hour was 1.87 the 13 member national cruel sea and the hostile storms future. pence. Nuclear power generated which bring the mighty ships to electricity is then 22.5% cheaper cartel and eight large humble wrecks could be Nuclear Fission is the than the conventional coal fired corporations with five of generated electricity, and both of these being USA based. these methods are more These corporations and 1 lb of coal produces 1 killowatt economical than the oil fueled cartels are influenced by hour of electricity. 1 lb of oil electricity generating stations. politics, costs, royalties, produces 1.5 killowatt hours This is reasonable obvious when transport and investment one considers that 1 lb of coal risks . remember it costs up of electricity. 1 lb of uranium can produces 1 killowatt hour of to $25 million to drill one well produce 200 killowatt years of electricity, 1 lb of oil produces on the continental shelf, and electricity ... 1.5 killowatt hours, and 1 lb of the prospect of sudden uranium can produce 200 nationalisation is always a killowatt years of electricity. The uranium potential using the FBR problem for independent envisaged as an almost contributor of a small but reactor and fueled by plutonium investors. impossible task. Harnessing the nonetheless significant part of can give a million to one return tide is a more realistic approach, the industrial wor1d's energy while the present day reactors especially where there is a fiord needs. There are at present Natural Gas deposits using only the uranium 235 give a coast and a sufficient draught about 177 nuclear power stations are near1y always lOcated yield of 20,00 to one return when such as Ireland's south-west in the Western world and 11 of where there is oil, although enriched to 3%. The cost quoted coast at Kerry, by bulkheading these are located in Britain. gas fields for nuclear power generated there are the orifice and installing the Nuclear power stations around electricity includes provision for independently located such generators to be propelled on the the world can produce 145,408 the reprocessing of fuel, a complex network to industry outgoing or low tide period. kilowatts, and up to the present vitrification. the storage of high and domestic consumers. The Once again this would not be a time have accumulated over level radioactive wastes and for known capacity of, for example, realistic contributor to the supply 1000 reactor operating years of the ultimate decommissioning of Kinsale is 1.3 trillion cubic feet, of the quantityof power to be experience. the station. giving a life span predictton in the considered as a significant About 300 of these reactor 20-30 year range. substitute for either coal or oil. operating years have been in It must be borne in mind that a large nuclear powered generating Hydroelectric schemes station produces less than one contribute less than 2"/o of the .. a large nuclear powered tonne of high level radioac~ve world energy needs and are waste per year, A similar coal dependent on a considerable generating station produces fired station produces 500,000 balance of nature's resources all less than one tonne of high level tonnes of ash, and discharges in the right place • the correct 80,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide topography, the right form of radioactive waste per year. plus 6 million tonnes of carbon bedrock, the correct elevation, a A similar coal fired station dioxide into the atmosphere. suitable catchment area and a A nuclear powered generating proper or adequate rainfall with produces 500,000 tonnes of ash, station does contaminate the due consideration for and discharges 80,000 tonnes of environment to a degree but it is less than that emitted by some of evaporation, ecology and sulpher dioxide and 6 million displacement. The hydroelectric the coal fired generating system can then never be seen tonnes of carbon dioxide statfons. Both of the preseeding as a serious substitute for either into the atmosphere .. types of generating station are oil or coal. negligible when compared to natural background radiation. British Nuclear Fuels ltd process Wind Power is conditional : it We could sum up by saying that Britain, and electricity from 11 ,000 tonnes of uranium, relies upon an element over no matter how inflated one's British nuclear power stations 25,000 tonnes of uranium which we have no control. There imagination or optimism is, Wind, first came on grid in 1956. hexaflouride and 20,000 tonnes have been serious attempts to Wave, Solar or Tide can never be of radiated fuel each year. develop and commercially exploit considered as the significant The Sizewell Reactor in South­ this potential. In the USA. using contributor of energy at the right East England has produced over We must now obviously be clear the choicest topographical sites, time and in the quantity required 50 billion units of electricity, and that the only fuels worth the results are such to be by industrial society, and the holds the world's record for consideration to sustain man's insignificant. At best they are foreseeable future for these reliability. One of its reactors ran industrial and civilised world are suited to the horticultural forms can never be seen as continuously at full power from coal, uranium, oil bearing shales industry where small and anything more than a hope. August 24 1975 for 653 days. and extending the life span of the infrequent energy bursts can be Britain in 1980 was producing present oil reserves for those used to advantage. Nuclear fusion research has 12% of her electricity needs from purposes for which there are no been going on worldwide for more nuclear power stations, and this suitable replacements. Solar Power for the same than 25 years under the aegis of percentage grows each year. Oil by-products for use in the FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE 26

pharmaceutical industry and to More importanUy. as far as convince by demonstration. and our charge. meet peak energy requirements our discussion goes. it will lower Most modern societies have and some forms of transport are our coal reserve time to about done this and certainly the The plant at Sellafield by 1990 irreplaceable. Taking all factors 500 years or a great deal less industrial west, with the will be producing a product which thus far considered, and when one considers the exception of just a few who have Will solidify the waste into glass observing today's position with population explosion which might always been over-cautious in all blocks; this oil surpluses because of a slump leave Thomas Malthus risk ventures, and the record of Will of course make their in demand and the substitution scratching his head. We might, the past twenty years is the management much easier and effect by the use of coal etc, we of course, find a way and a proof. safer. In this sglass form it might ·must now be surely aware that planet to which to transfer well be possible to store these when the corporations and the earth's growing population in the Nuclear fission is here to stay radioactive wastes in deep cartel have had time to future and let it serve us as the and its development will didused and exhausted mines, reorganise their investments and Americas did. continue. We have presently in and where the long and short get their economies in order they operation the PWR, the AGR, the term transitionary effects can be are going to control their output The problems of nuclear HWR and the FBR - all presently gauged and recorded. of oil, and the stranglehold of fission as understood are the in use in varying scales both of This approach may well allay the these powerful giants will then be fears of those who are opposed felt in a way never before known to the present deep-sea burial or understood. The price of oil Will .. looking today at the which is some hundred miles sky-rocket because in the short modern mighty seagoing craft, south of Ireland and west of term we will not be able or willing Spain in the Atlantic Ocean. to make the necessary the giant jumbo and the spacecraft, Looking today at the modern investments for short term we must surely consider their mighty sea-going craft, the giant change. humble origins and the doubts jumbo and the spacecraft we This leaves us with only two must surely consider their realistic options - coal and and fears which very often humble origins and the doubts nuclear fission. occurred during their development and fears which very often occurred during their Coal is a proven conventional when lives were lost proving development when lives were reasonable plentiful fuel, their safety and benefit to the lost proving their safety and moderately priced and well benefit to the satisfaction of dispersed throughout the globe. satisfaction of society .. society. Most countries have wisely reverted to the use of coal or are We are, it seems, a risk oriented in the process of doing so. Any fear of catastrophe and the size and number, and all of these society and we are quite willing sudden surge in demand will thought of sudden extinction. have different degrees of benefit and happy to live with these create bottlenecks and the law of This indeed is a real and genuine to man and varying degrees of risks, only because they are demand and supply will of concern for a society who have safety. remote. We know we can rely on necessity increase the price. been made aware of the terrible the built-in safety factors and the Governments who hitherto raised holocaust of the past caused by We have over the past twenty high degree of moral a big part of their exchequer atomic radiation. The disaster of years developed a responsibility inherent and requirements through oil and oil. Three Mile · Island and more comprehensive knowledge of inculcated into those employed products will be tempted to levy ~ently the Chernobyl meltdown nuclear engineering technology in the various disciplines. the shortfall on coal, thus have certainly not helped allay for handling radioactive I do believe that society has increasing the price to the these fears. substances and devices for use been exposed to atomic fission consumer. But advances in medicine have from mining uranium to milling the and are sufficiently familiar with Because coal is bulky in nature helped to allay the inherent fears yellowcake through refining and nuclear radiation to be able to and is thus a labour intensive of plague and black death, reactor generators to their safe make a value judgement. To commodity from mining to tuberculosis and a host of other disposal, and with ongoing forge ahead with this relatively transport to its end in the furnace communicable diseases. No research these will no doubt new found technology, for the it gives society a number of doubt in time, with high improve. betterment of both mankind now plusses as well as minuses. standards of safety and the There will always be human error and future generations, or to die Being labour intensive it creates proven ability to avoid panic and the problems which of exhaustion from a lack of · many new jobs, but It also when there are leaks at a nuclear necessarily follow: however, natural resources and/or pollutes the environment and plant, people as a whole will these are early days and the economic strangulation by those causes incalculable health develop that confidence Which accidents which have occured corporations and cartels who problems. These health problems will not oppose this necessary have been contained. There is exercise control over man's do not ·necessarily manifest modern technological advance. most certainly a real need for destiny are the two choices open themselves in the short term but watchdogs to ensure the highest to us. Given the facts, coupled do nonetheless cause life spans Ignorance is the real problem; margin of safety attainable and with suffiCient knowledge and to be shortened and increase the people are always afraid of that to protect the environmental common sense, man is quite number of deaths due to which they don't understand. The conditions which are our right capable of making the correct industrial accidents. answer is to educate and choice.

FORUM Magazine accepts contributions from anybody to Open Forum. The only constraints are availability of space and the laws governing libel, sub judice etc. If you Intend to contribute a lengthy piece to Open Forum, It would be advisable to contact the editor first. FORUM Magazine also welcomes letters to the editor, on any subject. H you are writing, please Include name, home address or college attended, and name and year of course studied. Names and addresses will not be published If requested. The address to write to Is FORUM Magazine, 41 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1. PAGE rT FORUM FEB 1987

Jirrmy Kane, Shop Manager Bonon Street Student Shop O'ROURKE SUPPORTS STUDENT DEMANDS

The DIT Students Union shops are still in Street and planned actions in the At a packed meeting in Bolton Street last danger of closure, with the City of Dublin Colleges of Marketing and Design and week, students unanimously decided to VEC to discuss the matter at its next Catering." embark on a de-canvassing campaign meeting. A motion to the meeting from against any member of the CDVEC who Aidan Kerins will be requesting that the At a meeting before Christmas with Mary is running in the General Election and existing services offered by the student O'Rourke, Fianna Fail spokesperson on who does not support the shops issue. shops will be allowed to continue in education, Aidan Kerins reiterated the Coach loads of students will follow the future years. demands of the students. candidate's canvassers from door to "Mary was very supportive of our door, explaining to the voters the The Students Unions have been told that position" he says. "She quoted the candidates position on the threatened in moves to new extensions in Kevin redundancies of the Union staff. The Street and Bolton Street, the range of students also re-iterated their decision goods offered through the student shops AN UPDATE from last December to hold a two day all will be restricted to stationery only - a out strike in the college if the VEC does move that would in effect close the ON THE DIT SHOPS not recognise the Union's right to trade. shops and make the staff redundant, as well as halving club and society budgets. CAMPAIGN "Several VEC members have been And in the College of Marketing and supportive on the issue" says Aidan Design, the very existence of the Kerins. "Tomas McGiolla, Paddy student shop there has been questioned example of Athlone Regional Technical Donegan, Michael O'Halloran and Sean by College authorities. College, which is run by the VEC of which Lyons have already pledged support. We she is chairperson. In that College, not have also recieved some support from "I'm sure most of the students are aware only are there pool and video games for the Fianna Fail members and nominees at this stage of the campaign the students to use, but there is also a on the Committee, but as far as we are to save the shops" says Aidan . "The student run shop providing tea, coffee concerned the issue will not be settled level of support has been astounding in and cut price stationery to the Union's until the Committee accept our motion at some of the colleges, with canteen members. She saw no reason why this its next meeting". boycotts in Kevin Street and Bolton should not also be the case in the DIT". FORUM FEB ]987 PAGE 28 Beverley Hills Jones and the Temple of Poltergeist meet Starsky and Hutch on a bad day starring Eddie Murphy ...

The Golden Child . children eat blood just isn't on probably enjoy parts of it. made a pact with the devil. And Whoever wrote this obviously when you've got Eddie Murphie Beverley Hills Cop or Trading he has to do all of this without spends half of each day watching laughing away in the background. Places it most definitely isn't, but saying 'tuck you man' or 'shut th e reruns of Poltergeist, Time And the detectivey scenes sort Eddie Murphy is still on form, and tuck up' since this is his first Bandits, Ghost Busters and of lose their impact when the there are some amusing scenes forray into movies for the under Indiana Jones, and the other half good guy figures out whodunnit as he tries to come to terms with twelves. To see whether or not he watching American TV detective and tracks him down, only to the nonsense surrounding him. does it (all right then , to see how programmes. The result is a have the bad guy turn into a He realises that he is the "chosen he does it) you'll have to cough mixture that doesn't really work. winged demon and fly away into one" and his destiny is to save up your three punts fifty and buy Getting frightened by spooky the sunset. Still, if you suspend the world. To do this he must free your popcorn, or get an adult to things that jump out of nowhere your normal belief mechanisms a the Golden Child of the title from bring you. and evil villains that try to make little (well, okay, a lot), you'll the nasty kidnappers who have

The Wit & Wisdom ... Next at the Gate •• If you're stuck inside and can't capture the essence of wit and Gate Theatre : Uncle Vanya Old Vic where he has been the go out you could do worse than cynicism covering politics - 'the After the highly successful associate director for the past spend an evening browsing art of making the inevitable production of Alan Ayckbourn's two years. He co-created and through the assorted Wit and appear to be a matter of wise comedy, 'Season's Greetings', wrote the recent series 'Casualty· Wisdom of Quentin Crisp, human choice' , artists - 'a group the Gate's next venture is Paul for BBC TV and is currently published by Arena Books and at of hooligans who cannot live Unwin's production of Anton engaged in writing the second £3.07 costing less than the price within his income of praise, Chekov's 'Uncle Vanya'. It opens series. of watching a film. pornography 'a successful on Tuesday 17th February. T.P. McKenna is back to take the Never Keep up with the Joneses, attempt to sell sex for more than It is Paul Unwin's first time title role of Uncle Vanya. The starts Quentin; drag them down it is worth; just three samples at directing in Dublin. He has cast also includes Anna to your level. Its cheaper. He random from a book that you will previously directed for the Manahan, Bosco Hogan and continues for over 130 pages to not put down once you start. Glasgow Citizen's and the Bristol Frank McDonald.

OPI'NIN(. TUFS. 17th ~EB . I'H I VII \\S I H0 \ 1 I Ill MS 1 ~ 11 ' I I H I \I I I' H. I \ II \'r S l \I S l~ l UI) UNCLE VANYA DUBLIN'S LEADING BOOK SHOP

FOR ALL YOUR ACADEMIC AND GENERAL BOOK with REOUI REMENTS T. P. McKenna Alan Stanford Dearbhla MoUoy Olwen Fouere * Fred Henne Ltd., Bosco Hogan Seamus Forde 27/29. Nassau Street. Dublin 2. Telephone: (01) 771255/720797. Anna Manahan Pamela Mant Frank McDonald

Directed by Paul Unwin Set Designed by Sa ll y Crabb Costumes Designed by Nigel Boyd Lig htin): Designed by Trevor Dawson

BOOKING 744045 CC 746042 PAGE 29 FORUM FEB 1987

With Carolyn O'Doherty Day of the Dead Boring •• Day of the Dead. discuss how to domesticate the This is really unbelievable, they walking dead or else get them certainly don't make films like back to their respective graves. they used to. I won't sleep for Anyway after much to-ing and fro­ weeks after this lot. Why don't I ing, they have a big battle, the get to review nice pictures like result of which is the darkest day "Peggy Sue got Married"? Maybe of horror the world has ever next month. Meanwhile .. .. known. As 'Day of the Dead' opens, the I had never heard of any of these 'walking dead' have taken over actors but maybe they used false the world (Yawn, what an original names, I would have if I had plot!) Some scientists (Gosh, appeared in this picture. It is what a surprise, scientists eh?) currently showing at the Carlton and other riff-raff have gathered cinema. See it quick, because in an underground missile silo to with any luck, it won't run for long.

The possession of Jesse Walsh by his fingernails. begins - ~s another nightmare on Elm Street Freddie's Back ...

Sid Vicious (Gary Oldman) and Nancy Spungen (Chloe Webb) wonder what they're Freddy's Revenge (Night- doing on the same page as Freddie's Revenge and Day a the Dead · the nightmare sequences are mare, Part 2). much more vivid than the Yes, Freddy's nails still need original and it's still for the Sid and Nancy .. clipping in this sequel to iron-stomached as far as I'm "Nightmare on Elm Street". concerned. Sid and Nancy. this story with tenderness and This time Freddy Krueger's This film has a prom ising This is the penultimate love story. respect, and quotes Luis Bunuel, spirit runs rampant and takes cast Mark Patten who plays saying "Perhaps a truly Ali Magraw and Ryan O'Neal are possession of the new kid in Jesse, had his film debut passionate love, a sublime love way out o' style! Nobody could town, Jesse Walsh. Strange playing James Dean in Robert have written anything more that has reached a certain peak of intensity, is simply happenings occur; Jesse has Altman's cult movie, "Come melodramatic than the real lives incompatible with life itself. recurring nightmares, electric back to the Five 'N' Dime, and deaths of Sid Vicious and appliances burst into flames, Nancy Spungen. It is a story of Perhaps it is too great, too Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean." sex and drugs, fame and despair, powerful. Perhaps it can exist their budgie has an anxiety He should have gone back only in death." love and murder. attack and turns into a roman and stayed there, because In 1977 Sid Vicious was the new The film does romanticise Sid and candle. Then, Freddy spills making this film was a Nancy, but it does not glorify bass player in the Sex Pistols, blood with a vengeance; the complete waste of his time them. There was, in fact, judging Malcolm McLaren's latest toy. budgies of Elm Street can and talent But he's a lovely Nancy Spungen was a groupie by the film, nothing glorious breathe again, it's Jesse's actor and hopefully he'll fom Philadelphia newly arrived in about them. There is a sceptical friends and neighbours who recover from this slight bout London. When Sid and Nancy affection and wry sympathy for fall foul of Freddy's of insanity and land another met, they fell in love. social outcasts and misfits, and a indomitable fingernails. But worthwhile role soon. Also in In 1978, Nancy's body was found cynical humour running through love wins in the end ___ _or this film is Hope Lange, in the Chelsea Hotel, New York. the film . The spirit of the punk era does it? Sid was arrested and charged is sarcasticly and sometimes playing Jesse's mother. She with her murder. He died of a drug savagely portrayed through This isn't as gory as the first had her very first role playing overdose before he could be humour and music. This is a one: it goes for the 'aaaah' opposite Don Murray and brought to trial. nostalgic and tragic yet enjoyable rather than the 'yeeeuch' Marilyn Monroe in the film Writer/Director Alan Cox treats film . Highly recommended. most of the time, but some of "Bus Stop." Interesting that! FORUM FEB 1987 PAGE LATE NEWS USI Officer Arrested On Assault Charge Court appearance next Wednesday February 11

USI Education Officer Peter Graves, apparent disinterest of the pol~icians to were peaceful demonstrations by formerly President of the Students Union education in the run-up to a general students of solidarity with those who in the College of Marketing and Design, election". cannot gain access to third level has been arrested on charges of The arrest was followed by a quickly education. assaulting a member of staff in the arranged demonstration which attracted He said that he had been arrested twice in Department of Education and is to appear up to 2,000 students, from Dublin the last two days under section 30, which in court next Wednesday, February 11 to Colleges where general meetings were he said was "normally reserved by the answer the charges. being held at the time. state for use against those who they Mr Graves was arrested on Thursday Feb USI Officer Paddy McPolland, who consider to be subversive elements". 5 following an occupation in the addressed the protest rally, said that it USI expressed themselves delighted with Department of Education where USI was insidious that assault charges and the size of the protest rally, and have members were protesting about "the lack section 30 of the offences against the called on students to repeat this support of equal access to education and the state act were being used against what next Wednesday at the court case.

Derry City supporters take over Dalyroount Park for the reoent FAI Cuup game against Shelbourne In next months FORUM ... Next months FORUM will include a feature on the Derry City phenomenon, which has seen up to ten thousand supporters travel from Derry every second Sunday to watch League of Ireland matches, which are often attended (Without Derry involvement) by less than 500 people. Taking into account the reletave size of the cities, it is the equivalent of up to 200,000 Dubliners travelling to a gaelic football match. Also, a feature on the DIT and the VEC, local news and curent affairs, reviews and previews, Open Forum, and Letters to the Editor. Please write and let us Know what you think of the magazine • the address Is 41 Mountjoy Square Dublin 1, or phone us at 363044.

STUDENTS HAVE MORE SENSE THAN MONE'r1

TRAVEL WITH USIT 7 Anglesea Street Dublin 2 Tel778117 PAGE 31 FORUM FEB 1987 GREAT STUDENTS OF OUR TIME By Arthur Matthews tr's SEVEN 0' CLCIX, AIJI> Dlttv HEAl>S srll.AIGHT FOI< 11-1£ LocAL . .

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"1 only came in for a coffee"

STUDENTS UNION SHOPS from coffee to kitchen sinks