THERE ARE fascinating goings on in Cork RTC as tempers run high over the failure to redesignate the college as an Institute of Technology. The staff are increasingly frustrated with the Department of Education's failure to act on the college's case in particular.

Last week the students voiced their opinion of the Department's latest efforts when they rejected the expert group announced by the Minister as "totally unacceptable". According to students' union president Matthew O'Callaghan, they are unhappy that there is no specific reference to Cork RTC in the group's remit and that there is no industry representative on the group. There are also fears that the criteria for redesignation of RTCs will be set too low.

The students are proceeding with their plans to run a general election candidate in Cork South Central. They meet this week to nominate a candidate, with O'Callaghan believed to be the front runner. O'Callaghan may face competition from Michel Martin (21), a student in the college who is an ardent Fianna Filer and, curiously, the first cousin of Fianna Fail education spokesman Michel Martin, whose constituency also happens to be Cork South Central.

This raises the fascinating possibility of two Michel Martins running - surely Niamh Bhreathnach's worst nightmare?