The Sudanese Medical Association, UK and Ireland, will hold its first conference in Ireland in the Salthill Hotel, Galway on Saturday, 9 June. The papers presented during the conference will focus considerable attention on the migration of Sudanese doctors, its impact and the many opportunities for collaboration between Sudan and Ireland. Delegates will include health policy makers in Ireland and Sudan, health care professionals, and academics to discuss issues related to the migration of medical professionals and analyse the whole issue of health workers migration in local and global contexts. The conference will be addressed by the Republic of Sudan’s Federal Minister of Health, along with keynote speakers from NUI Galway, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the Irish Forum for Global Health. Speakers will address and examine the overall impact of migration of health care professionals on the Irish health system.  Dr Abobakr Shadad, Lecturer at the Discipline of Medicine at NUI Galway and Deputy President of the Sudanese Medical Association, UK and Ireland, said: “This conference will provide an opportunity for participants from Ireland, Sudan and the UK to meet, network and examine opportunities of joint work.The Sudanese Medical Association was established a result of our awareness of the many opportunities available for us as Irish Sudanese and British Sudanese to be an agent of change and a voice of reason both in Ireland, UK as well as in our home country Sudan.” NUI Galway will be represented at the conference by: Professor Martin Cormican, Professor of Bacteriology; Dr Sean Dinneen, Senior Lecturer in Medicine; and Dr Diarmuid O’Donovan, Senior Lecturer and Vice-Dean for Internationalisation, who will be participating in the conference activities and chairing the sessions as well as in the post conference activities. This is the fourth International Conference for the Sudanese Medical Association, UK and Ireland, since its inception in 2010. The conference program is available at https://www.eventelephant.com/ee/images/event/14573/SMA_program(1).pdf. For more info on the conference visit https://www.eventelephant.com/SMA -END-

Sebastian Barry, Maureen Dowd, Irial Finan, The Honourable James Flaherty PC, MP NUI Galway today (Monday, 28 May) announced the recipients of the 2012 Honorary Degrees. The four individuals to be conferred on Friday, 29 June are playwright and novelist, Sebastian Barry; The New York Times opinion columnist, Maureen Dowd; Executive Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company, Irial Finan; and Canadian Finance Minister, The Honourable James Flaherty PC, MP. Speaking on the announcement, NUI Galway President, Dr Jim Browne said:  “NUI Galway is fortunate to be associated with many outstanding honorary graduates throughout its history and those being honoured this year form a particularly distinguished group. Each one has made an outstanding and distinctive contribution to the diverse fields of literature, journalism, business, public administration and government. NUI Galway is very pleased to be in a position to recognise these exceptional individuals.” Sebastian Barry will be conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Literature (honoris causa). Born in Dublin in 1955, he began to write in 1977, publishing a number of books of fiction and poetry, and in 1986 became increasingly involved in theatre work. He published a novel The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty (1998), followed by Annie Dunne (2002) and then two Man Booker Prize shortlisted books – A Long Long Way (2005) and The Secret Scripture (2008). The latter earned him the Costa Book of the Year award, the Independent Booksellers’ Prize, and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, among others. Barry’s most recent novel, On Canaan’s Side, was also longlisted for the Booker, and shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize, the Irish Book Awards and the Galaxy International Author of the Year. He has written twelve plays, among them the award-winning The Steward of Christendom (1995), Our Lady of Sligo (1998), and The Pride of Parnell Street (2007). He won the Ireland Fund Literary Award in 1997. He has been Writer in Association at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and was Heimbold Visiting Professor at Villanova University in 2006. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of East Anglia in 2010, and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. His work is translated into more than thirty-five languages. Maureen Dowd will be conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Literature (honoris causa). She is a 1999 Pulitzer Prize winner, in the commentary category, for her “unsparing columns on the hypocrisies involved in the Lewinsky affair and the effort to impeach President Clinton”. She was appointed a columnist of The New York Times’s Op-Ed page in January 1995 (where she joined in 1983). Previously, she served as a correspondent in its Washington bureau since August 1986. There, she covered two Presidential campaigns and served as White House correspondent, gaining a wide following of admirers and imitators for her witty, incisive and acerbic portraits of the powerful. She also wrote a column, "On Washington", for The New York Times Magazine. She began her career in 1974 as an editorial assistant for the Washington Star where she later became a sports columnist, metropolitan reporter, and feature writer. A Pulitzer Prize finalist for national reporting in 1992, Ms Dowd received the Breakthrough Award from ‘Women, Men and Media’ at Columbia University in 1991 and a Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications in 1994. She was named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year for 1996 and won the Damon Runyon award in 2000 for outstanding contributions to journalism. Dowd is the author of two bestselling books Bushworld:  Enter at Your Own Risk (2004) and Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide (2005). Born in Washington, D.C., on January 14, 1952, Miss Dowd received a BA degree in English from Catholic University (Washington) in 1973. Irian Finan will be conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa). He is Executive Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company and President of Bottling Investments responsible for managing a multi-billion dollar bottling business, Bottling Investments Group (BIG), which has operations on four continents (South America, Europe, Africa and Asia), with revenues of over $8 billion and employs over 85,000 people. Additionally, he is responsible for stewarding The Company’s Equity Investments and leading Global Supply Chain. Irial has over 29 years experience in The Coca-Cola System. From 2001 to 2003, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola HBC, during which time he managed the merger integration of Coca-Cola Beverages plc and Hellenic Bottling SA, and led the combined company's operations in 26 countries. Irial joined the Coca-Cola Company in 2004 as President, Bottling Investments and Supply Chain and was named Executive Vice President of the Company in October 2004. From 1995 to 1999, he was managing director of Molino Beverages, with responsibility for expanding markets, including the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Romania, Moldova, Russia and Nigeria. Prior to that role, Irial worked in several markets across Europe. From 1991 to 1993 he served as managing director of Coca-Cola Bottlers Ulster, Ltd., based in Belfast. He was finance director, Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland, Ltd., based in Dublin from 1984 to 1990. Irial serves on the board of directors of Coca-Cola FEMSA, Coca-Cola HBC, Coca-Cola Central Japan, the Supervisory Board of CCE AG (Germany), Smurfit Kappa Group, and the American Ireland Fund. He also serves as a non-executive director for Co-operation Ireland and NUI Galway Foundation. Irial holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from NUI Galway and is an Associate (later Fellow) of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants. The Honourable James Flaherty PC, MP will be conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa). He is a third-term Member of Parliament for Whitby–Oshawa (Ontario). He serves as Canada’s Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Greater Toronto Area. He is a Governor of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. As Minister of Finance he is an ex-officio member of all Cabinet Committees. Minister Flaherty was recently awarded Euromoney Magazine’s Finance Minister of the Year award. Euromoney credited him with enhancing Canada’s reputation for sound fiscal policy while taking full account of social justice and overseeing a strong regulatory regime that has kept the financial sector out of chaos. He has also been described as a pillar in both the G-7 and the G-20. In 2010, Minister Flaherty was chair of the G-7 Finance Ministers and chair of the annual Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting. Previously, for more than 10 years, he served as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Whitby–Ajax (Ontario). He served as Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Attorney General and Minister of Labour. He graduated from Princeton University cum laude and then graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the Bar in Ontario with honours and practised law for more than 20 years before being elected to public office. These four graduands join the ranks of previous honorary alumni which include, among many others, Nelson Mandela, Hilary Clinton, Christy O’Connor Snr and Jnr, Enya, Anjelica Huston, Fionnuala Flanagan and Margaret Atwood. For more information on this year's recipients click -ends-   Céimithe Oinigh 2012 Fógartha ag OÉ Gaillimh Sebastian Barry, Maureen Dowd, Irial Finan, an Uasal Onórach James Flaherty PC, MP D’fhógair OÉ Gaillimh inniu na daoine a mbronnfar Céimeanna Oinigh 2012 orthu. Is iad an ceathrar a gheobhaidh céim oinigh Dé hAoine, an 29 Meitheamh an drámadóir agus úrscéalaí, Sebastian Barry; colúnaí tuairimíochta an New York Times, Maureen Dowd; Leas-Uachtarán Feidhmiúcháin, The Coca-Cola Company, Irial Finan; agus Aire Airgeadais Cheanada, An tUasal Onórach James Flaherty PC, MP. Ag labhairt dó faoin bhfógra, dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Jim Browne:  “Tá an t-ádh le OÉ Gaillimh céimithe oinigh den scoth a bheith aici in imeacht na mblianta ach is eisceacht céimithe oinigh na bliana seo. Tá a c(h)ion féin déanta ag gach céimí oinigh daoibh i réimsí éagsúla na litríochta, na hiriseoireachta, an ghnó agus an riaracháin phoiblí agus an rialtais. Tá an-áthas ar OÉ Gaillimh a bheith in ann aitheantas a thabhairt do na daoine eisceachtúla seo.” Bronnfar Céim Dhochtúireachta le Litríocht (honoris causa) ar Sebastian Barry. Rugadh é i mBaile Átha Cliath i 1955, agus chuir sé peann le pár den chéad uair i 1977. D’fhoilsigh sé cúpla leabhar ficsin agus filíochta, agus i 1986 thosaigh sé ag díriú ar an amharclannaíocht. D’fhoilsigh sé na húrscéalta The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty (1998), agus Annie Dunne (2002) agus ansin dhá leabhar a cuireadh ar ghearrliosta do Dhuais Man Booker – A Long Long Way (2005) agus The Secret Scripture (2008). Bhuaigh The Secret Scripture an duais Costa Book of the Year, Duais na nDíoltóirí Neamhspleácha Leabhar, agus Duais Chuimhneacháin James Tait Black, i measc duaiseanna eile. Cuireadh an t-úrscéal is deireanaí a scríobh Barry, On Canaan’s Side, ar an liosta fada do dhuais Booker, agus ar an ngearrliosta do dhuais Walter Scott, Duaiseanna Leabhar na hÉireann agus Duais Galaxy d’Údar Idirnáisiúnta na Bliana. Tá dhá dhráma dhéag scríofa aige, ina measc The Steward of Christendom (1995), Our Lady of Sligo (1998), agus The Pride of Parnell Street (2007) a bhfuil duaiseanna buaite acu. Bhuaigh sé Duais Litearthachta Chiste na hÉireann i 1997. Bhí sé ina Scríbhneoir i gCompántas in Amharclann na Mainistreach i mBaile Átha Cliath agus ina Ollamh Heimbold ar Cuairt in Ollscoil Villanova in 2006. Fuair sé dochtúireacht oinigh ón Ollscoil in East Anglia in 2010, agus rinneadh Comhalta den Royal Society of Literature de. Tá a shaothar aistrithe go breis agus tríocha cúig teanga. Bronnfar Céim Dhochtúireachta le Litríocht (honoris causa) ar Maureen Dowd. Bhuaigh sí Duais Pulitzer i 1999, sa chatagóir tráchtaireachta, mar gheall ar a "unsparing columns on the hypocrisies involved in the Lewinsky affair and the effort to impeach President Clinton." Ceapadh ina colúnaí í ar an leathanach trasna ón eagarfhocal sa New York Times in Eanáir 1995 (áit ar thosaigh sí i 1983). Roimhe sin, d’oibrigh sí mar chomhfhreagraí i mbiúró Washington ó Lúnasa 1986. Bhí sí ina comhfhreagraí ar dhá fheachtas Uachtaránachta agus ina comhfhreagraí sa Teach Bán, áit a raibh lucht leanúna mór aici mar gheall go ndéanfadh sí cur síos barúil, gonta agus searbhasach orthu siúd a bhí i gcumhacht. Scríobh sí an colún, "On Washington," don New York Times Magazine. Thosaigh sí ag obair i 1974 mar chúntóir eagarthóireachta don Washington Star agus ina dhiaidh sin bhí sí ina colúnaí spóirt, ina tuairisceoir cathrach, agus ina scríbhneoir gné-alt leis an bpáipéar céanna. Bhí Maureen Dowd san iomaíocht do Dhuais Pulitzer as tuairisciú náisiúnta i 1992, bhuaigh sí an Breakthrough Award ó "Women, Men and Media" in Ollscoil Columbia i 1991 agus an Matrix Award ó New York Women in Communications i 1994. D’ainmnigh Glamour í ar dhuine de Mhná na Bliana i 1996 agus bhuaigh sí duais Damon Runyon in 2000 as a cuid oibre i saol na hiriseoireachta. Tá dhá leabhar sárdhíola scríofa ag Dowd Bushworld:  Enter at Your Own Rish (2004) agus Are Men Necessary?  When Sexes Collide (2005). Rugadh Maureen Dowd in Washington, D.C., an 14 Eanáir 1952. Bhain sí céim BA amach sa Bhéarla ó Catholic University (Washington) i 1973. Bronnfar Céim Dhochtúireachta le Dlíthe (honoris causa) ar Irian Finan. Tá sé ina Leas-Uachtarán Feidhmiúcháin ar The Coca-Cola Company agus ina Uachtarán ar Bottling Investments áit a bhfuil sé freagrach as gnó Buidéalaithe ar fiú na billiúin dollar é, Bottling Investments Group (BIG), a bhainistiú. Tá BIG ag feidhmiú i 4 mhór-roinn (Meiriceá Theas, an Eoraip, an Afraic agus an Áise), agus ioncam os cionn $8 billiún aige agus fostaíonn sé os cionn 85,000 duine. Chomh maith leis sin, tá Irian freagrach as Infheistíochtaí Cothromais agus Slabhra Soláthair Domhanda na cuideachta a mhaoirsiú. Tá breis agus 29 bliain taithí ag Irial i gcóras Coca-Cola. Ó 2001 go 2003, bhí sé ina Phríomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin ar Coca-Cola HBC. I rith an ama sin bhainistigh sé comhcheangal Coca-Cola Beverages plc agus Hellenic Bottling SA, agus bhí sé i gceannas ar obair na cuideachta i sé tír agus fiche. Thosaigh Irial ag obair sa Coca-Cola Company in 2004 mar Uachtarán ar Infheistíochtaí Buidéalaithe agus Slabhra Soláthair agus ainmníodh é mar Leas-Uachtarán Feidhmiúcháin na Cuideachta i nDeireadh Fómhair 2004. Idir 1995 agus 1999, bhí sé ina stiúrthóir bainistíochta ar Molino Beverages, agus é freagrach as margaí a leathnú, fiú i bPoblacht na hÉireann, i dTuaisceart Éireann, sa Rómáin, sa Mholdóiv, sa Rúis agus sa Nigéir. Roimhe sin, d’oibrigh Irial i margaí éagsúla ar fud na hEorpa. Idir 1991 agus 1993 d’oibrigh sé mar stiúrthóir bainistíochta ar Coca-Cola Bottlers Ulster, Ltd., lonnaithe i mBéal Feirste. Bhí sé ina stiúrthóir airgeadais ar Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland, Ltd., lonnaithe i mBaile Átha Cliath idir 1984 agus 1990. Tá Irial ar bhord stiúrthóirí Coca-Cola FEMSA, Coca-Cola HBC, Coca-Cola Central Japan, Bord Maoirseachta CCE AG (sa Ghearmáin), Smurfit Kappa Group, agus Ciste Mheiriceá na hÉireann. Tá sé ina stiúrthóir neamhfheidhmiúcháin chomh maith ar Co-operation Ireland agus ar Fhondúireacht OÉ Gaillimh. Tá céim Tráchtála ag Irial ó OÉ Gaillimh agus tá sé ina Chomhpháirtí (Comhalta ina dhiaidh sin) d’Institiúid na gCuntasóirí Bainistíochta Cairte. Bronnfar Céim Dhochtúireachta le Dlíthe (honoris causa) ar an Uasal Onórach James Flaherty PC, MP. Is é seo an tríú téarma aige mar Theachta Parlaiminte do Whitby–Oshawa (Ontario). Is é Aire Airgeadais Cheanada é agus is é an tAire Freagrach as Mórcheantar Toronto é. Tá sé ina Rialtóir ar an mBanc Domhanda agus ar an gCiste Airgeadaíochta Idirnáisiúnta. Mar Aire Airgeadais tá sé ina chomhalta de bhrí oifige ar gach Coiste Comh-Aireachta. Bhronn an tIris Euromoney an gradam Aire Airgeadais na Bliana ar an Aire Flaherty le gairid. Deir Euromoney go bhfuil cáil Cheanada maidir le dea-bheartas fioscach feabhsaithe aige agus ag an am céanna go bhfuil ceartas sóisialta curtha san áireamh aige chomh maith le réim rialála láidir tugtha isteach aige agus go bhfuil an earnáil airgeadais coinnithe as anord aige dá bharr. Cuireadh síos air mar chrann taca sa G-7 agus sa G-20. In 2010, bhí an tAire Flaherty ina chathaoirleach ar Airí Airgeadais an G-7 agus ina chathaoirleach ar chruinniú bliantúil Airí Airgeadais an Chomhlathais. Ar feadh breis agus deich mbliana roimhe sin, bhí sé ina chomhalta den Pharlaimint Réigiúnach do Whitby–Ajax (Ontario). Bhí sé ina Leas-Cheannaire Rialtais agus ina Aire Airgeadais, ina Ard-Aighne agus ina Aire Saothair. Bhain sé a chéim amach ó Ollscoil Princeton le honóracha agus ansin ó Scoil Dlí Osgoode Hall. Cháiligh sé mar dhlíodóir le honóracha in Ontario agus bhí sé i mbun an dlí ar feadh breis agus scór bliain sular toghadh chuig oifig é. Beidh an ceathrar seo anois i measc céimithe oinigh mór le rá roimhe seo cosúil le Nelson Mandela, Hilary Clinton, Christy O’Connor Sinsear agus Sóisear, Enya, Anjelica Huston, Fionnuala Flanagan agus Margaret Atwood. -Críoch-

Research also explores the attitudes, fears and preferences of young people towards chlamydia testing New research carried out by researchers from NUI Galway, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) has found that a national screening campaign for chlamydia in young people would not prove cost effective.  The research also explored the attitudes, fears and preferences of young Irish men and women aged 18-29 years old towards accepting tests to detect chlamydia. The Chlamydia Screening in Ireland Pilot Study, which was funded by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and supported by the Health Research Board, looked at the feasibility of opportunistic screening in a general practice setting for chlamydia, which is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Like other countries, Ireland is experiencing a steady increase in the numbers of young women and men presenting to the health services with STIs; the annual numbers of cases of chlamydia rose from 1000 in 1997 to around 6000 in 2008-09. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported bacterial STI in Ireland, with highest numbers reported among 20-29 year olds. More often than not it is silent and causes no symptoms – especially in women – but can cause serious complications such as infertility and ectopic pregnancies. Dr Emer O’Connell, Consultant in Public Health Medicine in the HSE presented study findings at Ireland’s first ever Sexual Health Awareness Week, which was officially launched in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland today. “Screening for chlamydia is available in many countries. However, some countries such as Australia are reviewing the effectiveness of this measure. In Ireland, due to our small population and the strain already on our health service, a screening programme for chlamydia would not be cost effective because it would be difficult to achieve the necessary coverage levels to reduce the level of infection.” The research found that the main barrier reported by young people to seeking or accepting an STI test was the stigma associated with chlamydia and other STIs.  This stigma was greatest among women especially those from rural backgrounds and in urban working class areas who feared the consequences of being publicly exposed – to their families and peers –through asking for an STI test. Despite the stigma associated with an STI test, there was a high level of willingness among young men and women to take a chlamydia test if offered by a health professional. 95% said it would be acceptable to be offered the test and 75% of students said they would accept the test if offered. The research also found that 80% of those involved in the study said they would inform their current partner if they tested positive for chlamydia but this rate fell to 55-60% in the case of previous partners. Professor Ruairi Brugha, Head of the Department of Epidemiology & Public Health Medicine, RCSI said: “While this study demonstrated that a national chlamydia screening programme would not be cost-effective in Ireland, it reports important positive findings. Young people are aware of the risks and are anxious that STI testing services be made accessible and acceptable.  We also found that there are primary care providers who are willing to provide such services.”  Dr Diarmuid O’Donovan, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, NUI Galway said “The study findings provide evidence of how to protect the sexual health of young Irish people.  Given these findings, a national sexual health plan should include primary prevention activities such as sex education, condom distribution and the provision of information on how to seek care for STIs. Therefore, we recommend the inclusion of primary care-delivered chlamydia detection and case management services as part of a national action plan to promote sexual health.” The research from The Chlamydia Screening in Ireland Pilot Study will be presented today during Ireland’s first ever national Sexual Health Awareness Week (SHAW). SHAW is being hosted by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). A range of public meetings, debates and interactive workshops promoting sexual health awareness at a national leave are taking place in RCPI from 28 -31 May, all of which are free and open to the public. ENDS

Due to unprecedented demand, NUI Galway has announced an additional date to the Summer Boot Camp diary for graduates who are seeking to gain employment. The first of these events, which will take place on Thursday, 24 May, is currently fully booked and a second date of the Thursday, 14 June has now been added. These graduate support ‘Boot Camps’, organised by NUI Galway’s Career Development Centre,  will focus on effective CVs, interview skills and using social media in the job search process. Interactive workshops facilitated by staff from the Career Development Centre and employers will challenge participants to review their current approach to job search and to apply the learning gained to enhance their job prospects. John Hannon, Head of the Career Development Centre, NUI Galway: “This is a great opportunity for those seeking employment to boost their efforts. We look forward to working again with our recent graduates and strongly encourage those who are looking for new ways to market themselves to come along and get their career back on track.” Places are limited to ensure individual attention and graduates who are interested in attending on 14 June are encouraged to book a place through the online booking system ‘Career Connect’ via the Careers website www.nuigalway.ie/careers as soon as possible. For further details contact the NUI Galway Career Development Centre on 091 493589 or email pamela.devins@nuigalway.ie. -ENDS-

Two NUI Galway academics have been admitted as new members of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) at a special ceremony in Dublin recently. Professor Steven Ellis and Professor Adrian Frazier were among only 22 academics in Ireland to achieve this highest academic distinction Steven Ellis is Professor of History at NUI Galway.  His publications over three decades have made a major contribution to our understanding of the political, religious and cultural history of late medieval and early modern Ireland, and have established him as an internationally recognised  authority on the history of  frontier societies. Adrian Frazier is Professor of English at NUI Galway. His work on modern Irish literature has opened up new fields of inquiry in territories often passed over: introducing new historicism to the study of Irish theatre; re-introducing George Moore to a world that had forgotten him; and bringing alive the story of Abbey actors working with John Ford in Hollywood.    Congratulating the awardees, NUI Galway President, Dr Jim Browne, said: “Research and academic excellence are the cornerstones of all that we do here at NUI Galway. I am very proud to see the work of my colleagues, Professors Adrian Frazier and Steven Ellis recognised by the Royal Irish Academy. Admission to the Academy is the highest academic honour in Ireland.  It is a testament to the calibre of our staff and research to see the work of two of our finest humanities scholars honoured in this way”. RIA President, Professor Luke Drury, urged the government to make greater use of the resources available to it in the academic community, so that it can develop new and creative solutions and avoid the danger of ‘group think’, saying: “At a time when trust in public institutions has been greatly undermined, we need reassurance that government is receiving good advice on what it should do and how it should do it. The State can, and should, turn to the academic community for expert advice, at far less cost than commissioning expensive consultants, and thereby support genuinely independent and occasionally critical voices.” For 227 years, membership of the RIA has been keenly competed for, as it is the highest academic honour in Ireland and a public recognition of academic achievement. There are now 466 members of the Academy, in disciplines from the sciences, humanities and social sciences. Those elected are entitled to use the designation ‘MRIA’ after their name. Members of the Academy include: Seamus Heaney, Frances Ruane (ESRI), Mary Robinson, Patrick Cunningham (ESOF Dublin 2012), Maurice Manning (NUI Chancellor), Patrick Honohan (Central Bank), Mary Canning (HEA) and writer and cartographer Tim Robinson. ENDS