- 2000 Conferring Speeches
- Prof Michael B. Murphy - Medical Degrees - June 22nd 2000
- Prof Michael B. Murphy - Dent & Nursing - June 22nd 2000
- Prof John Horgan - Arts Degrees - September 25th 2000
- Prof Dermot Keogh - Arts Degrees - September 25th 2000
- Right Rev Paul Colton - Law Degrees - September 26th 2000
- Mr. Thomas Barrett - Commerce - September 27th 2000
- Mr. Eoghan Harris Fd Sc & Tech - September 28th 2000
- Prof John Davenport - Science Degrees - 20th September 2000
- Dr Bryan McMahon - Law Degrees - 14th December 2000
- Mr John Travers - Science & Eng Degrees - 14th December 2000
- Prof John Fraher - Med and Fd Sc Degrees - 14th December 2000
- Mr Theo Dorgan - Arts Degrees - 15th December 2000
- Year 2000 - Conferring Timetables
- 1997 Conferring Speeches
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Dent & Nursing - 26-06-1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Arts Degrees and Diplomas - 23rd July 1997
- Dr Michael Mortell - Fac of Science Degrees - 23rd July 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Arts Degrees - 24th July 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Eng Degrees and Diplomas - 22nd July 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Arts & Law Degrees & Dips - 17th October 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Med and Arts Degrees - 16th October 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Commerce Degrees - 21st July 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Arts Degrees & Dips - 25th July 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Commerce Degrees & Dips and Dips in Law - 21st July 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Law Degrees - 21st July 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Arts Degrees and Diplomas - 16th October 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Medical Degrees - 26th June 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Degrees and Diplomas - 11th December 1997
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Degrees & Diplomas - 11th December 1997
- 1996 Conferring Speeches
- Conferring Speeches 1998
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Arts Diplomas - 24th July 1998
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Commerce Degrees & Diplomas - 20th July 1998
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Engineering Degrees - 22nd July 1998
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Science Degrees & Dips - 21st July 1998
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Degrees & Dips in Fd Sc & Tech - 22nd July 1998
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Science Degrees and Diplomas - 21st July 1998
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Commerce Degrees - 15th October 1998
- Dr Michael P. Mortell - Degrees & Dips in Med and Science - 16th October 1998
Dr Michael P. Mortell - Medical Degrees - 26th June 1997
Comments by Dr Michael P. Mortell President,
University College, Cork on the
SKILLS SHORTAGE,
made at the conferring of Medical Degrees on 26 June, 1997
The Skills Programme
The Universities have been telling Government for over a year now of the impending skills shortage in areas such as Software, Computers, Electronic Engineering. The Universities have also pointed out that the "free fee" decision created not a single extra place in the Universities, and that if there was to be an increase of students, and hence graduates, in the high-tech areas then an investment must be made now by Government.
It would seem that Government has great difficulty in understanding that putting resources into the university system - which will provide the cohort of highly skilled young people who are the basis of to-day's prosperity and who will be the basis of this country's future wealth and employment creation - is an investment. They prefer, in spite of all the evidence, to see it in the same light as social welfare.
Now the IDA Chairman, launching the Annual Report, talks of "the one imperative to continue this job creation performance" - "to provide companies with a supply of people who have the range of skills, qualifications and training to enable [these companies] to fulfil their plans for growth and development".
We welcome the words of support.
The outgoing Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Richard Bruton, emphasises in a press release, dated 24 June 1997, and entitled "Skills Shortages Addressed" "It is essential for the extra places to be provided for the Autumn".
The Minister is telling the Universities to have the required places for Autumn; and yet on today, 26 June, there is no Government decision to put in place the resources to hire one extra staff member, to create one extra square foot of space, or to put one extra piece of equipment to implement the wishes of Government.
The Universities need no more reports, no more pious statements of intent or of exhortation. The country needs action now. The Universities can, as they have in the past, produce the graduates who will sustain the economic well being of the country - but we must have the resources to do so; and now.
Failure to act swiftly will endanger the flow of inward investment, and further investment in industries already in Ireland. Hence, failure to act by the new Government endangers the job creation prospects for the future and Ireland's economic well being.