NUI Galway has moved to quell uncertainty over a senior research post that was central to the current controversy over its Irish language exam for academic appointments.
The university president, Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, has appointed Prof Nicholas Canny as interim vice-president for research for a two-year period.
The appointment comes into immediate effect, the college president said - although the incumbent, Prof Roy Green, had been due to stay until the end of the year. Prof Green, an Australian management expert, was appointed in July after a High Court ruling over an unsuccessful legal challenge by another contender, Dr Pat Morgan.
Dr Morgan, a former dean of science, was excluded due to lack of competency in Irish - even though she has passed Irish exams before. Prof Green had opted not to take the Irish exam as he is Australian.
Having accepted the post, Prof Green undertook an interview for a prestigious post as dean of the graduate school of management at Macquarie University, Australia, in August.
The college says he informed the NUI Galway president on September 23rd that he was resigning for "personal and family reasons". Prof Green subsequently e-mailed colleagues to clarify that he had been offered the job.
Siptu has called for more details on the situation, which has upset academics in the university.
Dr Ó Muircheartaigh said yesterday his decision to appoint Prof Canny was taken after extensive consultation. A university spokeswoman said the post would be re-advertised in two years' time.
Prof Canny, a historian, has been academic director of the NUI Galway Centre for the Study of Human Settlement and Historical Change. He is described as having played a critical role in winning research funding for the arts faculty.
