On the 14th of September I wrote about the excessive salary being advertised for the role of Head of Student Experience at UCC. I wrote to Ministers for Education, Finance and Public Sector Reform asking them if they approved of the excessive salary and if not what action they would take to have the salary adjusted to a more reasonable level. So far I have received automatic replies from Ministers Quinn,and Noonan acknowledging my email but nothing more. Minister Howlin, who did a spectacular u-turn this week on public sector allowances, has replied stating that “Issues relating to pay in the education sector are a matter, in the first instance, for my colleague Mr Ruairi Quinn, TD, Minister for Education and Skills. I have, therefore, transferred your correspondence to Minister Quinn’s Office for direct reply to you.” Clearly Mr Howlin is out of his depth in his own portfolio so lets hope Minister Noonan or Minister Quinn can find time to consider this issue. I will post any updates I receive. Mary

New National Drugs Strategy
Minister for Drugs Jennifer Murnane O’Connor recently updated me in Seanad Eireann on the new national drugs strategy. Her new strategy is designed to respond to the significant changes in drug-use patterns in Ireland and to ensure equitable access to services across the country. The draft strategy proposes five strategic



