An ice sculpture was one of the more extravagant additions to a €13,000 retirement party for the President of Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).
President of CIT Dr Brendan Murphy’s retirement party saw “tables, frames, drapes, carpets and the audio visual set-up” to celebrate the end of his career, with €5,500 spent on these items and decorations.
The party took place to mark Murphy’s retirement in September.
The news has prompted the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee to call for more oversight from the Department of Education on how taxpayer’s money is used for retirement functions.
Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills Seán Ó Foghlú, speaking at the committee this morning, said: “It wouldn’t be the normal for departments or agencies to have retirement parties for staff. However, there would be a recognition that when a senior leader of an organisation would be leaving after a number of years that it would be appropriate to be celebrate.”
Cork’s Evening Echo first reported on the spending a few weeks ago and it was raised today at the committee.
Members of the committee appeared unimpressed by Ó Foghlú’s answers. Fianna Fáil’s Marc MacSharry asked why individual staff members weren’t asked for contributions. “Would that not be better that instead of approving €13,000 for your own party if you happen to be the president of an institution, with €5,500 for the tables, frames, drapes, carpets and audio visual set-up?”, he said.
Ó Foghlú said he did not know the full details of the party’s costs. However, he acknowledged that he’d attended the party. “It’s important for the institution in question to recognise the achievements of a leader over a period of time”, he said during the exchange.
This isn’t the first frosty reception higher education officials have received at the committee. Over the summer, the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority, Dr Graham Love, as well as heads of Irish colleges, were questioned by the committee on a range of issues, including poor financial management and bad governance.
