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D’fhógair Ollscoil na Gaillimhe inniu gurb í an tOllamh Becky Whay atá á ceapadh mar Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí. Glacann an tOllamh Whay leis an ról go buan tar éis di a bheith ag feidhmiú ar bhonn eatramhach ó Mheán Fómhair 2024. Dheimhnigh Údarás na hOllscoile an ceapachán inné. Dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh David Burn: “Bhí an tOllamh Whay ag gníomhú sa ról seo i gcáil eatramhach ó Mheán Fómhair 2024 agus i ngeall air sin tá an-tuiscint agus taithí aici a oirfidh don ról seo, mar aon le tiomantas láidir do mhisean agus do luachanna Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. "Tá iomrá ar an Ollamh Whay sa saol acadúil, mar thaighdeoir agus mar oide araon agus mar gheall ar an tréimhse atá caite aici mar Leas-Uachtarán Idirnáisiúnta roimhe seo, beidh an tuiscint atá aici ar thírdhreach an ardoideachais in Éirinn agus thar lear ina buntáiste mór.” Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí, an tOllamh Whay: “Is mór an phribhléid dom é a bheith ceaptha mar Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí anseo in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Táim ag tnúth leis na deiseanna chomh maith leis na dúshláin atá romhainn agus muid ag obair chun ár straitéis ‘Lonnaithe i nGaillimh, ag freastal ar an Domhan Mór’ a chur i gcrích. Táim go hiomlán tiomanta tacaíocht a thabhairt don fhoireann acadúil agus na caighdeáin is airde a chinntiú dár gcuid mac léinn, chomh maith le ról lárnach a ghlacadh i bhforbairt leanúnach na hollscoile ar mhaithe le leas an phobail.”      Beathaisnéis an Ollaimh Whay Mar Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí, tá an tOllamh Whay ina ball d’Fhoireann Bainistíochta na hOllscoile agus den Chomhairle Acadúil; déanann sí ionadaíocht thar ceann an Uachtaráin nuair a bhíonn sé as láthair; agus tá freagracht fhoriomlán uirthi as an straitéis acadúil agus as feabhas acadúil, as arduithe céime acadúla, as tionscadail claochlaithe eagraíochta chasta agus is í curadh inbhuanaitheachta na hOllscoile í.  Thosaigh an tOllamh Becky Whay ag obair in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe sa bhliain 2019 nuair a ceapadh ina Leas-Uachtarán: Idirnáisiúnta í. I mí na Bealtaine 2024, athcheapadh í sa ról sin don dara téarma, agus díríodh den chuid is mó ar an Straitéis Idirnáisiúnta a stiúradh, atá lárnach i Straitéis Ollscoil na Gaillimhe 2030, agus ar an dara céim den Líonra Ollscoileanna Eorpacha – ENLIGHT.  I Meán Fómhair 2024, ceapadh an tOllamh Whay ina hUachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí ar bhonn eatramhach.  Sa ról eatramhach seo, thug an tOllamh Whay leanúnachas le linn tréimhse ina raibh athruithe suntasacha ar bun, bhí sí i gceannas ar roinnt tionscadal casta agus leag sí amach an treo fadtéarmach do mhórthionscnaimh ar leith. Ina measc siúd tá seasamh ceannródaíoch na hollscoile san inbhuanaitheacht a choinneáil, Leabharlann nua an Dr Karen Guinee a thógáil agus an Oifig do Chlaochlú Eagraíochta a bhunú. D’oibrigh an tOllamh Becky Whay in Ollscoil Bhriostó roimhe seo, ollscoil atá mar chuid de Ghrúpa ollscoileanna clúiteacha Russell agus atá sa 57ú háit ar domhan de réir Ranguithe QS an Domhain agus sa 5ú háit sa Ríocht Aontaithe le haghaidh Taighde. Bhí post aici freisin mar Stiúrthóir Idirnáisiúnaithe i nDámh na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte in Ollscoil Bhriostó, dámh mhór, dhiantaighde a chuimsíonn scoileanna leighis, fiaclóireachta agus tréidliachta na hOllscoile. Ag an am céanna, roinn sí freagrachtaí an Chinn Scoile i Scoil Tréidliachta Bhriostó agus threoraigh sí an Scoil trí thréimhse inar tharla athruithe móra agus inar éirigh leo creidiúnú a bhaint amach le Veterinary Medical Association Mheiriceá. Tá cáil idirnáisiúnta ar an Ollamh Whay as a cuid taighde ar eallach déiríochta agus ar leas eachaí oibre agus oibríonn sí i limistéir den domhan ina bhfuil idirspleáchas ainmhithe daonna ríthábhachtach don tslí mhaireachtála a bhíonn ag teaghlaigh. Bhí sí ina céad Uachtarán ar an International Society for the Study of Lameness in Ruminants agus bhí sí ina Cathaoirleach ar an Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Veterinary Association. In 2015, bronnadh gradam CEVA uirthi as Leas Ainmhithe Feirme. Críoch

A major research review of the Disability Act 2005, the State’s principal disability law, has found that it no longer reflects the modern standards for disability rights and requires significant reform to deliver greater accountability, participation and equality.  The report was carried out by University of Galway and launched today (Thursday June 25th) at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in Dublin.  The review states that reform of disability rights is necessary to align Irish law with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).  The Disability Act 2005 at 21: Reflecting, Reforming, Reimagining was produced by Professor Shivaun Quinlivan and Dr Charles O’Mahony at University of Galway’s School of Law, with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Communicating Europe Initiative.  Drawing on a national survey, stakeholder engagement, and critical legal analysis, the report concludes that the Disability Act 2005 reflects an approach focused more on administrative and policy responsibilities than on legally enforceable rights.  The report states that many of the Act’s core provisions remain constrained by weak enforcement mechanisms, limited accountability and the absence of effective remedies where statutory obligations are not fulfilled.  It also identifies a number of key reform priorities including: Transforming the Assessment of Need process for disabled people into an enforceable entitlement framework, creating clearer rights to services and supports and stronger accountability for their delivery Strengthening accessibility obligations Updating protections relating to genetic testing and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence Embedding the principles of the UN CRPD directly into Irish law  Professor Shivaun Quinlivan, University of Galway School of Law and one of the authors of the report, said: “The only enforceable entitlement in the the Assessment of Need process, the assessment itself, has failed to deliver the transformation promised in 2005. While the legislation creates a right to assess need, it does not create a corresponding enforceable right to receive the services identified. The result is a framework that frequently records unmet need without remedying it. Long waiting times, resource constraints, litigation, and persistent implementation failures have significantly weakened confidence in the system.  “The Programme for Government commitment to reform reflects an acknowledgement that the current framework has not delivered for many disabled people and their families. The question now is not whether reform is necessary, but whether Ireland is prepared to move from a system of administrative discretion for the HSE to one of enforceable rights and accountability consistent with the United Nations approach/standards.”  Dr Charles O’Mahony said: “What struck us most throughout this project was not just the scale of frustration with the Disability Act 2005, but the extraordinary clarity, insight, and determination of disabled people and their families about what needs to change. Across the research, the national survey and conference, people spoke powerfully about the gap between rights promised and rights realised, between policy commitments and what living in Ireland as a disabled person is like. Participants in the research spoke with hope, ambition, and a vision for a more inclusive and fair Ireland.”  The launch comes at a pivotal moment as a nationwide consultation on the future of the Disability Act 2005 is being conducted by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, marking the first comprehensive review of the legislation since its enactment more than twenty years ago. It runs until September 9th.  The researchers hope the report will serve as a practical resource for disabled people, Disabled Persons’ Organisations, representative bodies, advocates, policymakers, and public bodies preparing submissions to the Government consultation process.   Professor Quinlivan said: “The consultation recently announced by Government is an important first step. However, the international evidence and stakeholder feedback gathered through this research project tells us that meaningful reform requires disabled people not simply to be consulted, but to be actively involved in shaping, leading, monitoring, and evaluating the reform process itself.”  See here for information on the Government consultation process.  The full report The Disability Act 2005 at 21: Reflecting, Reforming, Reimagining is available here.  Ends

Honey bee researchers have launched a call for citizen scientists to report sightings of wild honey bee nests, beehives and foraging. Are honey bees foraging in your garden? Do you have beehives in or around Galway city? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, or you know of where there are beehives near you, then the team would love to hear from you! There are over 100 different bee species in Ireland with one of those being the honey bee. They are relatively smaller than other bee species and not as ‘fluffy’ as a bumblebee. People are familiar with honey bees being kept in hives by beekeepers but honey bees are a wild species too.  More importantly, native wild honey bees are now considered as endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but wild colonies are a frequent sight in Ireland where they live in cavities, in trees, roofs or walls. Professor Grace McCormack, Galway Honey Bee Research Centre at University of Galway, said: “In Co Galway, to date, we have recorded more than 190 wild colonies, although we know there are likely to be many more. “However, there is a large gap in our knowledge – we do not know how the native wild honey bee and other wild pollinators are affected by managed bees, which live in beehives. We don’t know because we don’t know how many beekeepers there are or where their hives are.” University of Galway has 12 hives in Galway city and is keen to ensure that its beekeeping is sustainable, not adversely impacting wild honey bees, other beekeepers, or other bee species. To better understand how many hives would be a sustainable number, the research team are exploring what other hives might be in the area and where its bees, and other bees, are getting their food. The research team would love to hear from anyone who has any information on: Honey bee apiaries, hives or nest sightings in the area Honey bees feeding on pollinator friendly plants in your gardens or area Professor McCormack added: “The native Irish honey bee, also known as the black bee, is uniquely adapted to Ireland’s climate. However, it is currently under threat from non-native imports, climate change, invasive species and a lack of resources such as food and nesting space. “This research is important as it will provide a clearer understanding of honey bee and pollinator activity in Galway, to help us develop conservation measures and sustainable management strategies for apiaries that can be applied within Galway and nationally.” All information provided will be kept confidential. To submit sightings and queries, please contact Pamela Madigan at P.Madigan1@universityofgalway.ie  or 087 4474811 or Professor Grace McCormack at grace.mccormack@universityofgalway.ie or 086 0227227. Ends