A public lecture on the issue of Accountability in Foreign Policy and the role of Foreign Affairs Committees in delivering such accountability will be given on Thursday, 25 October, 2007 at NUI Galway by Michael D. Higgins T.D., President and Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs for the Labour Party and Adjunct Professor at NUI Galway. The free public event is part of the University's Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) Keynote Seminar Series which seeks to address pertinent issues facing the wider national and international community. The seminar 'The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs – Can it deliver accountability on Foreign Policy?' will be hosted in conjunction with the Irish Centre for Human Rights, where Michael is an Adjunct Professor. In his presentation, he will draw on his experience of the Irish Foreign Affairs Committee and also on some preliminary results from research he initiated into the working of similar committees across 17 European countries. According to Michael D. Higgins, "The recent Iraq War, its illegality, the rhetoric used to justify a pre-emptive strike, the misleading of Parliament and the international institutions, and above all, the tragic consequences that have flown from it, have raised the issue of the consequences of a gap between the moral concerns of a public, the actions of their Governments, and the response of their Parliaments". The seminar will question not only the classic question as to whether foreign policy should be accountable, but also whether it is even possible against the argument of some practitioners that foreign policy makers and their diplomatic agents must operate in a relatively secretive manner. Michael D. Higgins will give some examples to help illustrate the context in which Irish foreign policy decision making operates and to highlight some of the obstacles to accountability thrown up by this context. The seminar will be held in the Siobhán McKenna Theatre in the Arts Millennium Building at NUI Galway, from 1pm to 2pm. For further information, telephone the CKI office on 091 493823. -ends-

NUI Galway will confer three Honorary MA Degrees this week on Eric Elwood, for his contribution to Connacht Rugby; Tom Tuohy, for his voluntary contribution as coach to NUI Galway Boat Club; Tomás Ó Tuathail, for his contribution to Irish language promotion and community work in Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo; and an Honorary MSc Degree on Alasdar Mac Cana, for his contribution of over 20 years in the practical training of scientists in the Department of Physics and in the Education Department of NUI Galway. The honorary ceremonies will take place Monday 22, Tuesday 23 and Thursday 25 October, 2007, in conjunction with the Autumn Conferring Ceremonies which will see the graduation of over 4,000 students. Eric Elwood will be recognised for his contribution to rugby in Connacht. A dedicated servant to the Galwegians club in Galway, he first represented his province Connacht in 1989 against Ulster. He went on to represent Connacht a record 177 times and played his last match for Connacht in April 2005. He entered the international scene in 1993 and went on to win 35 caps for Ireland scoring 296 points and he played his last test against Romania in October 1999. Tom Tuohy, a native of Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, will be honoured in recognition of his contribution to the sport of rowing in NUI Galway over a period of more than 30 years. "Tom Tuohy has for more than 20 years been the driving force behind the story of Rowing at NUI Galway. His enormous contribution to the club has been based on a love of the sport and a deeply-felt connection to and pride in his alma mater. All of these efforts have been on an entirely voluntary basis. Tom has been and remains an unpaid coach and mentor at a time when selfless volunteerism in Irish society is a very rare thing indeed", commented fellow rowing clubman Ruadhán Cooke. Alasdar Mac Cana will be honoured for his contribution of over 20 years in the practical training of scientists in the Department of Physics and in the Education Department of NUI Galway. Originally from Armagh, his work in NUI Galway came after a lifetime of teaching in the UK, when he "retired" with his wife, Magdalen Conlon from Spiddal, to live in Connemara. Professor Tom Glynn, Department of Physics, NUI Galway, said: "we are honouring a man (now in his hundredth year) who has done truly wonderful patient work, over an extended lifetime, in educating generations of young scientists on both sides of the Irish Sea. At the same time, he has filled his life with extensive travel, experience, and adventure and left a lasting impression on all who meet him as a remarkable human being and a dedicated teacher". Tomás Ó Tuathail will be honoured for his contribution to community life and to the promotion of the Irish language in his native Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo. Professor Nollaig Mac Congáil, Scoil na Gaeilge, NUI Galway says: "Tomás Ó Tuathail, a native of Tourmakeady and one who farmed and kept a business there all his life, realised that the area was in serious decline economically and socially. He spent his life actively trying to regenerate the community in every way possible in tandem with others locally whom he inspired and energised. Societies were formed to address all aspects of sheep farming and rural development as well as social, cultural and educational matters in what once was a heartland of Irish language and heritage. Until his recent retirement Tomás was central to all these activities and, it is hoped, his leadership and example over the years will be replicated by others in the future". The annual autumn conferring ceremonies began at NUI Galway last Friday and Saturday, 19 and 20 October, when the Adult Education ceremony was held and where awards were conferred on 703 students who completed their certificate, diploma and degree courses at many locations across the country. ENDS

NUI Galway Head of the River will take place on Saturday, 27 October, the first major event of the 2007 / 2008 rowing season. While NUI Galway Boat Club expects that the season will culminate at the Beijing Olympics next August for some of its members, it will commence on home waters next weekend. The NUI Galway Head of the River course extends from Lough Corrib to just downstream of the Quincentennial Bridge, and is best viewed from the University campus, upstream and downstream of the bridge. The NUI Galway Head of the River is run on a time-trial basis, with the fastest crew over the course in each category winning the pennant, and the title "Head of the River". The main event will be the Men's Senior Eights, for the Gerry Colgan Memorial Trophy. The top category will be hotly contested, with the home club (winners in 2006) likely to be severely tested by a visiting crew from Molesey Boat Club in the UK. The Molesey crew contains two Olympic Gold Medallists (the legendary Searle brothers) as well as other Olympic and World Championship medallists from Britain, USA and Australia. This all-star line-up is by some way the most decorated crew to have ever competed in Ireland. Also visiting from the UK will be Latymer Upper School, from Hammersmith, London, who will compete in the Junior Men's categories, where they will face stiff opposition from the local junior strongholds, St Josephs and Coláiste Iognáid, as well as Tribesmen and Galway Rowing Club. In addition to the overseas entries, crews from all over Ireland will be taking part, in what should be a great day's racing, and a fantastic spectacle. This year the organisers have introduced a new format for the event, with dedicated lanes on the river for crews making their way to the Start, and for crews racing downstream. This will lead to a better spectacle for spectators, with all the different boat classes being run at 5 minute intervals over two sessions, from 10:00 to 12:00 & from 14:00 to 16:00. Live commentary will be provided, and the results of each event will be announced within minutes of the crews completing the course. Photo © Ian McDonald 2007 ENDS

- 1000's of graduate jobs under one roof - 65 major companies from business and industry will feature at the NUI Galway Graduate Recruitment Fair in Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre on Tuesday, 30 October from 1-5pm. The event will showcase opportunities for students in all Faculties, with a diverse number of fields such as civil engineering, financial services, accountancy, law, consultancy and many other professions. Major players in the medical device industry will attend such as Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Ireland's largest banks will also be present including Bank of Ireland and AIB. For those interested in a career in consultancy - two of Ireland's largest consultancy firms, Tata Consultancy Services and Accenture will also be represented. The IT and engineering sectors will also have representation through local and national companies including Coffey Construction, Sisk, SAP, IBM and Dell. This is an excellent opportunity for current students, graduates and postgraduates to meet with prospective employers to find out what the current job market has to offer and make invaluable contacts. Company representatives will include past graduates of the University who will be available to speak with students. The Career Development Centre team will also be providing a CV clinic on the day to review and provide advice on preparing a CV. Deirdre Sheridan, Career Development Adviser at the Career Development Centre advises those thinking of attending the event: "A well-crafted CV is your sales brochure so come prepared. You never get a second chance at a first impression." The event is a fantastic opportunity for both employers and students. Students should come prepared and identify the companies they want to approach and are interested in working for. A full list of exhibitors is available from www.nuigalway.ie/careers ENDS

A Public lecture on Breaking through the Pain Barrier; Physiology and Pharmacology in Sports Medicine will be given by Dr David Finn, Department of Pharmacology and Director of the newly launched Centre for Pain Research at NUI Galway in the Clinical Science Institute on Friday, 26 October at 8pm. Dr Aideen Henry, Sports Medicine Physician from the Galway Clinic and Programme Director of the 'Masters Programme in Sports and Exercise Medicine' and 'Masters in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy' at NUI Galway, will open proceedings which will be followed by presentations from her students on the medications commonly used in sports medicine. The lecture will be of interest to sportspeople, coaches and anyone generally who is trying to maintain an active healthy lifestyle and finds themselves hampered by sports injuries. Dr. Henry said, "When a person is injured in sport they commonly use rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE regimen) and take anti-inflammatory tablets and have some physiotherapy treatment. We have invited Dr David Finn, an expert in the research on Pain, to give us some background information on how pain is perceived and how it can be modified in the body. Then our students, qualified medical doctors and chartered physiotherapists will give us an update on how medications in common use in sports medicine actually work." The meeting is free and open to the public. ENDS