Sir, – Further to "NUIG president says university is committed to gender equality" (May 5th), the percentage of women promoted at the university in 2013-2014 fell far short of the 50 per cent of female candidates shortlisted.
Indeed, the “39 per cent” quoted is, in part, because women who had been up for promotion appealed the initial results. Upon review, university officials found “administrative errors” and belatedly approved promotions of women.
It is also important to point out that Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington was deemed undeserving of promotion in 2013-14 before and after appeal, as well as after the NUIG officials’ review. In late 2014, however, the botanist won her gender bias case regarding the 2008-2009 promotion round and the university “unreservedly” accepted the ruling.
One would think if the university had truly fixed the gender bias issues of the 2008-09 round that Dr Sheehy Skeffington would have been deserving of promotion in the 2013-14 round as well. – Yours, etc,
ROSE FOLEY,
Clarinbridge,
Co Galway.