Opinion

Absence of devolved government biggest threat to university students

I was amazed to read the content of a Best of Britain letter – ‘British Government accused of creating a crisis of opportunity for students’ – (November 4).


It is a political and legal reality, that the competency for tertiary education in Northern Ireland rests with the devolved administration at Stormont. Consequently, the biggest current threat to university students in Northern Ireland is not the British government but is evidently the absence of a devolved government to adjust funds to mitigate the current cost-of-living crisis. The Westminster government gives the devolved administration a lump sum of which Stormont is supposed to manage appropriately into ministries such as education. 

As a recent graduate with significant experience of the tertiary education system, it would almost be better if the British government took full control over tertiary education in Northern Ireland. The ineptitude of the devolved administration in managing tertiary education is startling.  Foremost, why is Northern Ireland the only devolved region of the United Kingdom where third-level education is not free of cost? Why when the Economy Minister Diane Dodds announced a £500 one-off Covid disruption payment in February 2021 were students from Northern Ireland who studied in Great Britain excluded from receiving said funds?


Why does the current postgraduate loan in Northern Ireland not even cover postgraduate course fees for local universities, never mind universities in Great Britain, or any additional living costs?

Ms Naomi Smith, Best for Britain chief executive, is correct to state that “Education should not just be for those with wealthy parents”. However, the system was broken for students well before the current cost-of-living crisis. Stormont has failed and failed again to step up for young people who decide to go to university. The free university education that our parents received has been taken from us and instead our generation has been burdened with a lifetime of student loan debt. A sitting Stormont has the ability to make university free for Northern Ireland students, the political power to apportion generous living costs to university students in this difficult time, it has not done so. So, perhaps just for once, rather than blame the British government, as is politically expedient, our local politicians could sit down and provide a truly quality tertiary education system for Northern Ireland students. I do not believe this will happen. Even if the Stormont Assembly spontaneously reconvened tomorrow, I do not believe university students would truly benefit from any proactive executive or ministerial decision on additional funding.   

Stormont has failed university students – Stormont has failed Northern Ireland. Best for Britain can blame the Conservative government in Westminster but once again, as always, they will be required to sweep up whatever pieces are left of our dysfunctional and inept tertiary education system in the short to medium term. It’s time Stormont was dispensed with and Northern Ireland was governed by professionals, not amateurs, even if professionals are currently in short supply. 

DANIEL GRAHAM


Belfast BT7

May Éamon’s noble Irish soul rest in peace

I was deeply sorry and shocked to read about the death of the great Éamon Phoenix, God rest him.

We corresponded by email  over the years. He also used to email me all his wonderful ‘On This Day’ articles in The Irish News.

On his first contact, he told me he had once taught at St Michael’s, Enniskillen – and I replied that’s how and why his great intelligence and historical consciousness had been developed and grown.

In one important email, he wrote to tell me about his research on the MacBride Principles, which the Irish National Caucus launched on November 5 1984. He wrote: “Hi Sean, covering the State papers for the 1980s in the past couple of years I’m struck by the deep fear which your campaign for the MacBride Principles generated in the NIO and among Stormont officials. By 1985 major investors such as Ford, pension fund managers (eg Goldin of NY) and even the US Consul in Belfast were voicing grave concerns about discrimination, In response the NIO despatched a series of envoys to the US including the Supreme Knights of the Kts of Columbanus,  who were deemed to have great sway with US cardinals. But you must know all this.

It’s clear that your efforts played a key role in forcing the equality agenda in the North.

Le meas mor.

Éamon.”

May his noble Irish soul and great Irish mind rest in God’s eternal peace.

FR SEAN McMANUS


President Irish National Caucus, Washington DC

Saddened by Éamon’s death

Like so many across Ireland, I was saddened to hear of the death of Dr Éamon Phoenix. Those of us in the historical community valued enormously his contributions to Irish history. As a speaker, he was the man for the great state occasion. But he also gave his time gladly to humbler events. I remember – it can only be a year or so ago – his riveting talk to the tiny Horsey Hill community group. He stood on a mound, overlooking the River Lagan and talked with characteristic fluency about barges, bargemen and of course their horses, and then swung into a panoramic view of the notable characters on Agincourt Avenue and the wider area. It was a tour de force and also a revealing detail from a life of scholarship and public engagement. 

PROF LIAM KENNEDY


Belfast BT7

Eternal rest be upon him

I just wanted to say how sorry I was to hear of Dr Éamon Phoenix’s passing. I looked forward every day to reading his column ’On This Day’ and his comments on the history of the time. I attended the lectures he gave on the centenary of partition which were made all the more enthralling by his superb oratory skills, his deep knowledge of the subject and the humanity he exuded in the telling. Your publication and Ireland will be the poorer for his loss. Suaimhneas Síoraí Air

SÉAN O MÓRDHA


London

Éamon will be sorely missed

I ’m so sorry to hear of the death of Éamon Phoenix. His has been the first item I’ve read every day in The Irish News. His On This Day column will be much missed. Condolences to his family and to his Irish News colleagues – RIP.

FRANCES SYMINGTON

Amusing

anecdote

I

 studied A-level history with Éamon Phoenix at St Mary’s CBS. I remember two things from that time. Éamon lived in Cromwell Road and the teacher thought it amusing that two of his pupils had the names Phoenix and Park. 

FRANK PARK