Monthly Archives: April 2012

Good old Tess.

In one email, sent in January by Ms Prone to the Minister’s private office, she said: “Bottom line – us being nice isn’t enough . . .

“And getting action out of people may require that action is taken at a higher level with the department.”

Ms Prone also warned the private office in another email sent in February, regarding an event in Dr Reilly’s home area of Fingal in north Dublin, that as he would be speaking in his own backyard he would “ad lib their legs off”. She signalled there would be little for her to contribute in terms of speech-writing for the event.

“I figure I’m severely redundant in relation to anything in his backyard. If he suddenly feels the urge for me to write something different, I stand braced, eager and ready to serve. XXXX! Tess.”

The Irish Times reported in February that Dr Reilly and Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald were both paying out of their personal ministerial allowance for the Communications Clinic, whose directors are Ms Prone and Tom Savage, also chairman of the RTÉ board. Dr Reilly said he had paid €15,000 last year to the Communications Clinic.

Prone Tells Reilly’s Office To Toughen Up On Tardy Staff (Martin Wall, Irish Times)

Previously: A Breakdown In Communications

Kate Fitzgerald

The Irish Times And Kate Fitzgerald

Let Kate Have The Final Word

The report is designed to provide a roadmap for the transfer of Catholic schools to other patrons. In the first phase, it recommends 43 towns and four Dublin areas where there is likely to be substantial demand for diversity.

This will involve 18 dioceses and scrutiny of 250 schools, of which about 50 may be divested. Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has said he hopes to see 1,500 of the 3,000 Catholic primary schools divested. The report is much more cautious. It backs a three-stage process as follows:

* The department gathers information on the demand for divestment through parental surveys;

* Various school patrons provide the Department of Education with a range of options for divestment after consultations with school communities;

* The department evaluates the options and submits a report to the Minister.

 

Gather information. Provide a range of options. Report to the minister.

Yes. This may take some time.

No ‘Big Bang’ On Changes To Schools Patronage (Sean Flynn, Irish Times)

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