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Secrets of Croynism in semi-state sector
dublin |
rights, freedoms and repression |
opinion/analysis
Wednesday June 20, 2012 13:33 by Brian Flannery - Justice and Equality
What is going on inner circles Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) In the last number of weeks I have been digging in relation to the newly appointed head of SFI Professor Mark Ferguson. Some months ago a friend of mine, a journalist in Manchester asked me if I had any idea what was going in the SFI (Science Foundation Ireland). I replied 'not a clue'. Jim came to visit the weekend just gone and gave me an insight as to how people in Manchester view, with anger, the appointment of Mark Ferguson as Director General of SFI. My facts state and these can be checked out by going on Google and looking up Renovo that this company had Stg1 million wiped of its value last year and that shareholders sustained a 75% loss in share price which I have no sympathy for because they took a gamble. However 200 people lost their jobs in Renovo and I have the deepest sympathy for them.
by Mark Lett Thu Oct 03, 2013 20:03
Mark Ferguson D.G. of Science Foundation Ireland may well be hosting a working group at the Economic Forum but only fools would imagine that he is doing it in the interest of science in Ireland or indeed in the interest of SFI. No, our Mark has and ever has had only one interest, and that is to make lots of dosh at any and at anyone's cost.
by Damien O'Dowd - Young scientist Tue Oct 01, 2013 13:36
So Mark Ferguson has at last gotten use to the fact that "world class" nonsense and "best in the world" agency no longer cuts any impact with the Irish public. This was the "mantra" with which he has tried to hoodwink us from the time he took the position of Director General of SFI. He has now changed tack and implies that we are more suited to less ambitious aspirations and should instead link up with smaller countries to "try to devise a way of measuring the impact of of scientific research of small economies". This man utters unmitigated nonsense. We have had (and still have I have to hope) world class researchers who were more than capable of supplying this information. We still have researchers who by their collaborative research with their colleagues on a world wide basis are doing exactly this. Unfortunately what we also still have is this man Ferguson and his lackeys simply exchanging one form of gobbledygook for another and being paid above the odds for doing so. What madness??
by Brian Flannery - Justice Mon Sep 30, 2013 15:48
When is enough enough?
by Brian Flannery - Justice Fri Sep 27, 2013 15:10
Ferguson hits the Dail again. Last Tuesday Clare Daly asked Sherlock questions relating to the conflict of interest. 21 million shares in Renovo and Clare Daly insisted on an internal inquiry in relation to Renovo Ferguson.
by Eye of the Tiger - ex semi-state Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:18
In the last six months a special committee has reported back to Bruton and this dumb and dumber Cabinet that the policies that Frank Ryan in Enterprise Ireland is following are a complete and utter failure. As we all know and it was well documented last February Ryan appeared before an Oireachtas Committee and admitted that only 15 jobs were created in 2011. This may sound unbelievable but the facts are there. Enterprise Ireland needs a complete overhaul urgently and also SFI may soon be passed tense with a new proposal that it should merge in a certain time period with EI. This is totally opposed by Ferguson and his cronies because they want the gravy train to continue for as long as possible.
by Ethics Watcher - Equality Tue Sep 24, 2013 12:58
I was speaking to a source last Saturday in the Labour party and he has informed me that due to the ongoing negativity of
by Richard Corbett Thu Sep 19, 2013 16:32
We are being constantly regaled with how well Ireland is doing on Research and Innovation. The spend of millions of euro of tax payers' money is being constantly justified on the basis that it is strengthening the economy and making our research and innovation "world class". The report from the European Commission, based on a "new innovation indicator" that Sweden, Germany, Ireland and Luxembourg are the E U member states getting the most out of innovation SEEMS to back this up. But DON'T BE FOOLED. This is unmitigated nonsense. For the true facts I refer you to Michael Hennigan's article in today's "fin facts.ie" on "Irish Innovation: E U indicator rating based on fake computer services exports". Maybe the ministerial advisers would do well to do their research, or does that sound too much like work?
by Brian Flannery - Justice Tue Sep 17, 2013 10:37
The last number of months have been Bizzare to say it lightly, Renovo is back trading and shares are on the rise yet Ministers Bruton and Sherlock see no Conflict of Interest. Ferguson and wife hold 21 million shares in Renovo and will make money massive money again. They have to be stopped and the Irish taxpayers thanks to Indymedia are being made aware of this ongoing Scandal of Corruption ans Cronyism. Ferguson now draws salaries three ways SFI, Chief Scientific Advisor, and now Renovo the big
by B. Clifford Sat Sep 14, 2013 22:09
The SFI Code of Business Conduct, on the SFI web site includes the following:
by M. Brennan Wed Sep 11, 2013 20:51
Once more our attention is brought to bear on the business activities of SFI's Director Mark Ferguson. Yes, there are huge conflicts of interest and yes the work of Irish Scientific Researchers is seriously compromised. One wonders how Mark Ferguson draws the line between his lucrative business activities and the business of the Irish State. If SFI were a privately run business he and his cohorts would have been long gone. One must therefore conclude that there are powerful vested interest groups/individuals at play here.
by Watcher - Semi-state cronyism and denial Wed Sep 11, 2013 15:42
A wise old head once said and it applies today even more so than before: 'Beware of the vested interests'. Today 'cronyism' may be more descriptive but the moral is in the code of conduct and that is what is challenged in society especially now. Throughout these postings the words 'conflict of interest(s)' repeat and it is denial that determines the moral abyss. There should be an analysis and a statement to clarify the matter.
by Maureen Sherry - Semi-state sector and cronyism Tue Sep 10, 2013 15:41
Ok Jim you say that last Friday a group of staff at Enterprise Ireland went on the "piss" but Why Not?
by Jim Healy - Watchdog Fri Sep 06, 2013 15:26
Researcher
by Researcher Thu Sep 05, 2013 14:35
With reference to some of the CEO's of Science Foundation Ireland disparaging and insulting remarks (Ninth Level Ireland.ie) to the academic community one must ask the question, - Is Science Foundation Ireland fit for purpose? I find it quite extraordinary that an agency whose purpose it is to serve the academic community should be so gratuitously insulting and dismissive of a vital arm (ie education) of this State. The very fact that it has gone unchallenged is symptomatic of a very weak and ailing state.
by Comyn - Semi-State cronyism academia compromised Tue Sep 03, 2013 16:16
"Serious researchers are leaving the country in droves to take up positions abroad, our universities are losing the prestige and recognition they once worked so hard to achieve, and as has been stated before, more eloquently than I could,
by Brian Flannery - Semi-State Cronyism Patronage Mon Sep 02, 2013 15:06
Young scientist: the quotation sums it up but these fools are rolling in the money!
by Young Scientist Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:56
Brian, I did not see the article in the Sunday Times (2/09/2013) but if what you qoute is true (and I have no reason to doubt you) then another plague has been delivered on the heads of the irish taxpayers.
by Brian Flannery - Semi-state & their secrets Sun Sep 01, 2013 16:01
A well proportioned and balanced delicate piece of reporting but the question is: What about Renovo - Professor Mark Ferguson and conflicts of interests?
by Celtic Mist - Semi-State Cronyism Fri Aug 30, 2013 15:59
Enterprise Ireland appoints its new CEO, Julie Sinnamon. Frank Ryan the outgoing CEO of Enterprise got his wishes when Julie Sinnamon will replace his in November 2013.
by Watcher - STEM Science Technology Engineering Mathematics Wed Aug 28, 2013 16:18
Thanks Maeve: the links creating an interesting profile of both company and creator.
by Celtic Mist - Secrets of Cronyism - Semi State Sun Aug 25, 2013 16:04
Yes keep watching. The links referred to make interesting reading. Note the share price of Renovo is on the ascent.
by Maeve Brennan Fri Aug 23, 2013 17:06
Watcher - Keep watching.
by Disgusted Thu Aug 22, 2013 14:47
Mark Ferguson's comment "herding the cats" is a most disparaging and disgraceful comment on Irish scientists by a man whose job it is (despite his over inflated opinion of himself by styling himself "an ambassador of Irish science") to SERVE the academic community.
by Reader NUI Thu Aug 22, 2013 13:39
Must share this comment with the creator of this site. Taken from "The Times Higher" (22-28/08/2013).
by Watcher - STEM (Science Tech Engineering Maths) Wed Aug 21, 2013 15:41
Conflicts of interest are embedded in the Irish culture is the only excuse we can use now. Why? Because with all the media coverage over the 18 months related to Professor Mark Ferguson formerly Renovo plc and his appointment to Science Foundation Ireland as Director-General followed by the surprise appointment as Chief Scientific adviser to the Government, the only conclusion we can reach is that the mire and the abyss will prevail. The omerta, the silence will lurk in the corridors of power and in the internet hubs of communication will be the cry from the wilderness seeking clarity.
by Brian Flannery - Secrets of cronyism in semi-state Tue Aug 20, 2013 16:33
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Mon Aug 19, 2013 22:18
Based on my observations of people over many years it has been demonstrated time and again that those with ideals and integrity often yield to external pressure and it is only with determined practice that this falling can be stalled. Add to this a reality that idealism and integrity are more obviously common in the young. It wanes with age. Errors too are more common in the young, like being drunk on life and careless, but cheating is cheating and not error. Error with honour can be overcome. Practised subterfuge kills idealism and creativity. Cheating ruins lives and breaks the balance. While the idealism of youth becomes lost and falls at times, there remains a practised and habitual foundation with a resultant integrity. Where the practice is subterfuge or deceit the foundation is corrupt. Ph.D. cheating sets a foundation of corruption. Is it a lesson being given to our young that cheating works and forms a basis for success?
by Fool proof Mon Aug 19, 2013 13:59
Re: Sunday times article "herding the cats" 18/08/2013
by Maeve Brennan Mon Aug 19, 2013 13:39
The Sunday Times 18/08/2013
by Student/Citizen Sun Aug 18, 2013 14:58
It has been reported that student grants will be massively cut in the coming budget. Everyone understands the need to tighten the belt.
by Science student - Queens Belfast Sun Aug 18, 2013 13:31
So Mark Ferguson of Science Foundation Ireland explains that his cheating was done while he was a PhD student. So that makes it o.k? It just tells us that Ferguson was, even back then, prepared to lie and cheat.
by Young scientist Fri Aug 16, 2013 16:49
Renovo Business Strategy 19/03/2013.
by Missy Wed Aug 14, 2013 12:58
Interesting comments, Brian Flannery.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Tue Aug 13, 2013 16:24
New Browser: Endorse your comments. There is an illusion out there that SFI is a creator of economic growth and employment.
by New Browser Tue Aug 06, 2013 16:09
With reference to the above postings I would like to draw your readers' attention to the very fine analysis of Science Foundation Ireland's mission and actual contribution in Finfacts.ie. What emerges is a worrying picture of the utter delusion that Ministers Bruton and Sherlock are under, in their belief that this organisation is a jobs engine in Ireland's economic recovery.
by Gale Voge - Birds Eye View Sun Jul 28, 2013 17:01
Need more be stated?
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sun Jul 28, 2013 15:36
Response to: Unimpressed. An acute assessment that people need to understand.
by Unimpressed Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:59
We need Claire Daly on the ball again.
by Retired Academic - Secrets of semi-state and cronyism Tue Jul 23, 2013 14:43
Dail recess and release of information that may be of interest to the people have been consistent in making postings on this site and in particular those in academia who raised their concerns about the appointment of Professor Mark Ferguson.
by Brian Flannery - Semi-state Sun Jul 21, 2013 14:46
Hugh Cooney ex KPMG has decided to step down as Chairman to the Board of Enterprise Ireland. It is alleged he to is to be replaced by Terence O'Rourke also of KPMG. O'Rourke resigned two months ago from KPMG on a massive pension. Now he will be chairman of Enterprise Ireland also on the Board of Directors of the Irish Times. More jobs for the boys Irish style ....
by Conundrum - Justice Thu Jul 18, 2013 15:37
Renovo was a publicly quoted company on the London Stock Exchange. People made considerable money but this was matched by many who lost both jobs and investments.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Tue Jul 16, 2013 15:42
I agree with the above posting and the rest on the Indymedia site. I agree also with Joe Mc - we need Indymedia as a record keeper of blatant wrong-doing. I have put a lot of hours and phone calls in relation to researching this apparent scandal of Renovo in Manchester and Ferguson's arrival on these shores. The obvious question now is: Who is protecting Renovo Ferguson and Why?
by Maebh - NUI Sun Jul 14, 2013 17:20
"Lying, cheating, stealing , time wasters" A depressing description of our nation heard during an employment tribunal in London. Sadly this description is not confined to our bankers. It fits well the head of many of our CEO's in government quangos, - appointments made on the basis of probable cronyism and back slaps by our Government or it's mandarins.
by Exiled Researcher - Researchers with Integrity and common decency Tue Jul 09, 2013 11:59
I am now exiled since 2007. I had a three year contract with Enterprise Ireland but didn't fit into the cronyism of those entitled classes. I watched SFI under Conor Lenihan, Bill Harris, and the rest. I met Ferguson in my student days in Manchester when Renovo was almost at its peak before the crash. It is one of those meetings you don't forget. He told me that my PhD from UCD was not up to standard but to work hard - and to look at his achievements in his career and now I am brink of making hundreds of millions for investors and of course myself. Its amazing how the pyramid of arrogance can crumble but what I find more bizarre is how he landed in Dublin and succeeded to terminate with near immediate effect the contracts of four eminent scientists and then was appointed to the role of Chief Scientific advisor to the Government. The Renovo scandal is still talked about in Manchester and London.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Wed Jul 03, 2013 14:19
In the Dail yesterday Clare Daly asked Minister for Enterprise Innovation and Jobs Richard Bruton and Sherlock's boss questions in relation to Renovo Ferguson.
by Young Researcher - Prophet of Doom Wed Jul 03, 2013 12:39
Mark Ferguson's cacophany of abject failures, pumped up and unfounded arrogance has been well documented here and abroad. His past and questionable activities have been embarassingly lauded by clowns in this country and his promotion to Chief Scientific to Government is beyond belief. He and his cohorts are a serious threat to Ireland's reputation in science and research. Failure and destruction will be their legacy and ours will be a legacy of failure to halt it.
by Doc Student - NUI Sat Jun 29, 2013 21:18
I completely agree with you Brian. A big problem in this country is that most of the big chiefs are of the greedy arrogant amoral buccaneering type. Renovo/Ferguson is, according to the Phoenix report, clearly of this cast. It isn't enough that we have our own "cowboys" running the show but we like to import them too. We seem to have a penchant for appointing failures from other jurisdictions to run the show for us here in Ireland. Ferguson has not been shy about telling us how he is going to improve how things are run here in Ireland. Who are the clowns who appointed this cheat? Do they perhaps have vested interests in his many private (?) interests? Why does he get continued support and more importantly how can we believe anything he says? How many more of his ilk are being supported and cosseted by the system?
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sat Jun 29, 2013 15:57
Anglo Irish tapes five years on are only leaked to the media and shock horror is expressed by all. The reality is as far as non principled, non ethical behaviour, amorality is secretly admired in Ireland; we have this denial that allows us accept the rogue, the risks, the reckless carnage. The point this June 2013 is we appear to have learned nothing from the financial travesties in 2008, and if we don't register the calamities, nor will we from the revelations on these tapes. We continue on to seek out those narcissists who sell themselves as leaders and who continue to plunder through salaries, deals, pension pots, expenses, travel abroad, junkets afar, and throw in the odd course at Harvard or Stanford. What have we got and who do we admire - the question could be are these people part of the pathological narcissist cohort that have caused destruction globally in the financial markets and remain totally unchecked in Ireland. There are bankers in prison in other countries ie America, UK, France and many more.
by Brian Flannery - Semi-State Cronyism and Integrity Wed Jun 26, 2013 15:51
by Watchdog - NUI Tue Jun 25, 2013 19:44
From SFI's Strategy 2020, available on the SFI web site, SFI has a Key Performance Indicator related to this title: "support research integrity" and another one that is an "audit...to include areas such as research integrity, compliance with legal, ethical...obligations...transparent, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct".
by Brian Flannery - Justice Thu Jun 20, 2013 15:39
Integrity, Honour, Due Diligence
by Poor Sucker Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:53
Nothing like lying and cheating your way to the top, - is there?
by Student II - NUI Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:19
Compliance with research integrity is the least we should expect from people who are in receipt of millions of taxpayers money. How can we hope to achieve this when the Director of SFI/ Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Renovo Ferguson is himself, by his own admission, guilty of malpractice and it could be argued, dishonesty in his own research career?
by Student Sun Jun 16, 2013 11:23
Irish Government Chief Scientific Adviser and Director-General of Science Foundation Ireland was involved in deceit and improper practice. He submitted the same research material to two different journals. He therefore “duped” leading journals on his work.
by not surprised Thu Jun 13, 2013 14:49
Pat Rabitte continues the Labour sell out with oil and gas just like his mates in EI....
by Brian Flannery - Semi-State Cronyism Thu Jun 13, 2013 13:47
Watching Vincent Browne on Tuesday night, he had a pre-recorded interview with John McGuinness who stood down temporarily as Chairman of the PAC, Browne as usual gave no quarter, he stated to McGuinness that he as Minister for State with Fianna Fail five years ago got a full office in the Dail including the famous super loo which cost the Irish taxpayers £350,000. McGuinness replied that he had nothing to do with the renovations and he went on to say that he would have been happy enough to sit in an ordinary office with a loo off the corridor. Browne replied that the facts remain - you have your new office and the super loo.
by Get Smart/Big Data - Secrets of Cronyism Tue May 28, 2013 16:05
Where Ireland meets the USA in the quest for commercialised scientific research, job creation, life-long learning - this latest press release from SFI dated 27th May 2013 is provocative to say the least and well worth reading. Is there a significant platform now secured by Science Foundation Ireland with Professor Mark Ferguson at the helm? Can we now acknowledge his leadership both as D-G of SFI and more importantly in the role he took up earlier in the year as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, for no additional salary. Indications ie in the absence of FOI papers, are that his salary does not exceed the threshold amount that applies to new postings in the semi-state sector.
by Observer - Justice Mon May 27, 2013 16:23
I want to thank the moderators for taking down the above troll, in the last half hour. It is becoming quite evident now that Indymedia, Brian Flannery and many more are sending shivers into the crony hingeing on near corruption brigade in the semi-state sector in Ireland.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Mon May 27, 2013 10:42
I want to thank the moderators for acting so swiftly this morning in relation to the gobblegook which is now off the topic.
by Enter the Jabberwockey Sun May 26, 2013 14:13
'It seems very pretty,' Alice said when she had finished it, 'but it's rather hard to understand!' (You see she didn't like to confess, even to herself, that she couldn't make it out at all.) 'Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas—only I don't exactly know what they are! However, somebody killed something: that's clear, at any rate.'
by Brian Flannery - Semi-state cronyism and cost to taxpayers Fri May 24, 2013 15:44
Rogue - a bustybee at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
by Brian Flannery - Size Ten Slingback Club Wed May 22, 2013 03:25 bustybee at ictu dot ie
Dullsville! Let's all forget about Science Foundation Ireland and that other place. There is just one foundation that really matters, and yes, it's a big, big secret. Are we all sitting comfortably? Here goes: (deep breath.. LOL!)
by Brian Flannery - Justice : Secrets of Cronyism in semi-state Tue May 21, 2013 16:07
In Enterprise Ireland every two weeks there is a meeting of the elite group of ascending eaglets under the chairwomanship of Julie Matriarch Sinnamon. Others include Niall Donnellan, Treston and Cantwell. The policy or may I say the purpose of this crony gathering is to do a surveillance check on every division in the semi-state body. Why? Well conjecture would suggest that Julie needs to know what is going on internally and why would suggest that if Frank Ryan CEO is to retire, and Julie is looking for the position, she needs to be briefed. When Frank Ryan was asked about this gathering, he denies it. Sinnamon is power hungry and reports are that she has a good ally in Renovo Ferguson in SFI.
by Disgruntled Professor - University Mon May 20, 2013 13:25
Big Mouth Strikes back.... we need to hear more
by Big Mouth strikes again Sat May 18, 2013 11:55
Entertaining to watch Vincent Browne show last week, Fine Gael’s TD Tom Barry spouting shite that indigenous exports had increased and rambling about imaginary jobs.
by Liam Ryan - Whistleblower potential Fri May 17, 2013 16:09
Apparently, but the media are slow to report, Minister Bruton chairs a conference today in Dublin. This gathering of gobshites are supposedly going to bring investment and create employment in Ireland. Surely Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Forfas and not forgetting Renovo Ferguson, SFI, have been paid handsomely by the Irish taxpayer to create jobs and attract investment to this country. As it is, and I stand to be corrected, 90% of our exports are generated by the Google coterie of foreign investors - (MNC's who use our infrastructure, our educated English speaking workforce to access global markets with our favourable tax rates), while 10% exports are created at a domestic level. The point being, that employment is equally created by the two groups.
by Brian Flannery - Semi-States the Secrets - the Cronyism Mon May 13, 2013 14:38
The scandals in the semi-state continue and will continue until Sean Sherlock awakens to the massive waste of taxpayers money from within SFI under Renovo Ferguson and in Enterprise Ireland under the two monkey ministers - Sherlock and Minister Bruton.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View. Fri May 10, 2013 10:16
Yet another pub type conversation but not in a pub and without the alcohol. Coffee shop banter amongst the unemployed near the Fás centre on Parnell Square. The conversation had a tinge of eastern Europe and an increasing absence of hope in those re-emigrating.
by Big mouth strikes again Mon May 06, 2013 17:05
Ann Gibbons asks the question to whom should the FOI request regarding the croke park seats be addressed to? Well why not corporate director and expenses signatory Paddy Hopkins who can answer that before he shuffles off to retirement in September or Labour activist Donnellan when he’s not in mid-air at the tax payer’s expense.You never know though, maybe some journalist has the info already. Depends on the FOI process though and why they’d block such a request.
by Observer III - Semi-State: Secrets about cronyism & possible Corruption Sun May 05, 2013 16:46
SFI is a quango and a very costly one. Papers are still waiting for the FOI information on
by Ann Gibbons - Semi-State and public accounts committee investigation Sat May 04, 2013 15:14
Niall Donnellan, Enterprise Ireland, as previously posted nears retirement, yet this man is facilitated and funded for attending lectures at Columbia University in the USA (not dis-similar to the McNeice IMO provisions and Harvard; and some similar practice in FAS). What we can rest assured about is that it is on taxpayers money. Niall Donnellan who is a director with Enterprise Ireland also is a member of the Finance Committee of EI along with Mark Cristal and Paddy Hopkins. Donnellan while ensuring his own studies at Columbia University are paid for out of public funding exercised restraint on the funding of courses for staff in Enterprise Ireland to enhance their careers. This funding would be for education provided in Ireland while he flies at will for his own advantage. This man proves to be (like so many more entitled people within the public sector and trade unions) a law onto himself.
by Brian Flannery - SFI & Cronyism within the semi-state sector Fri May 03, 2013 16:04
by Through fire, justice is served...said itsy bitsy spider - Tangled web Fri May 03, 2013 11:03
Months are rolling on and with the imminent retirement of Enterprise Ireland CEO Frank ryan, one can be assured that if Mark Fergusson was able to complete such an abysmal Directorship with SFI then he should do admirably well if he were appointed as Enterprise Ireland’s CEO.
by The Rose of Clare - Irish Veterans Society Thu May 02, 2013 13:31
Sherlock won't answer the questions. Ferguson refuses to release the internal emails through the FOI process and yet Ruth Freeman, Donal Keane, Una Clifford and of course, top dog Ferguson can travel at free will which results in the excessive costs to Irish taxpayers. I want to go back to a posting by Brian Flannery some weeks ago in which he mentioned a letter that was written by Mark Ferguson (Renovo/SFI/Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government) to Enda Kenny, Taoiseach, in April 2012. This letter is now in the hands of two journalists and is soon to be printed. Ferguson with the arrogance of a three balled Tiger stated that he would create over 500 jobs in his first year. At this stage, the man is becoming a total embarrassment.
by Eagle Eye - Semi-State cronyism, waste, even corruption Mon Apr 29, 2013 15:57
Through fire justice is served
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sat Apr 27, 2013 15:49
Looking at the above postings, the word corruption rings out for Enterprise Ireland with the inference that it is widespread in our public sector. If we don't want to use the word 'corruption' maybe now is the time to start seeking out 'waste' within this bloated public overly bureaucratic and enriched sector. SFI is the junior member here. Ferguson is gradually making his presence known across the semi-state sector. As stated in the previous posting, it seems that certain former Fianna Fail cronies made a lot of money for their friends via the grants coming from EI in the starting up of fledgling/incubator companies particularly from the 1980's onwards.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Fri Apr 26, 2013 10:25
It would appear from the posts recently on this topic that the quasi or self proclaimed elite of Europe are literally shitting on Ireland. We have the claimed infamy of the CEO of SFI and with relation to the Independent article a director of BOI who it appears has too been chased from his previous jurisdiction. When extradition is implemented for fiscal criminals will those toilets be transported to the scrubs of British goals.
by Through fire justice is served Thu Apr 25, 2013 17:39
It’s clear from the thread that a lot of people are exasperated from the antics of Ferguson and even more so with Sean Sherlock, the Labour Minister responsible for his appointment.
by Taxpayers watch on - Taxpayers against cronyism Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:57
Yesterday, in total and absolute amazement I read in the Irish Independent about the "Hilton Wilton" or maybe "Wilton Hilton" - the offices of the IDA, Forfas, SEAI, Enterprise Ireland and of course Science Foundation Ireland. It balances out at £9,000 a loo to have a poo and work out who do you do - the answer of course being the Irish taxpayers. 78 toilets in that D2 "Wilton Hillton" semi state palace at the cost of £700,000. Professor Ferguson said we have a lot of overseas business elites who need a proper seat so that they can read the Irish Times and it is these people who demand a standard in relation to the super loos in the EU.
by Brian Flannery - Semi-State Sector elites SFI Sun Apr 21, 2013 16:07
Looking at Ferguson's (Director General and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government) latest website on SFI - it makes me laugh and cry. It portrays to the naked eye a world class business but when you take the time to go through it in detail as I have, the message clearly states, it is about one man and that is Ferguson. There are photo shoots in the Aras with President Michael D. Higgins and other various photos on Ferguson's travels across America and the business world. Conflicts of interest and the questions posed so frequently in the media and beyond still remain unanswered. All we know is that this man Ferguson's super ego is pandered to.
by Blackbird of Avondale - Performance Semi-State Mon Apr 15, 2013 15:38
The Unions are in negotiation, some say yes to Croke II but others say No. What we really need in Ireland now is to tackle unemployment (nearly 500,000 unemployed), create enterprise and economic growth. Austerity is not working but the question is have we tackled the age old question of cutting cloth according to its measure yet. This is the hard question and we need to ask it and get answers. The cost benefit analysis needs to be applied to the public sector which is now so much more privileged than those eeking out an existence in the private sector which is deprived of credit by the ineptiude of our banking sector and coalition government.
by Brian Flannery - Secrets of Cronyism Fri Apr 12, 2013 15:32
I again go back to the letter Mark Ferguson sent to Enda Kenny, Taoiseach, in April 2012. It is said to have detailed the promise of 100 jobs+ to be created by his team in SFI in the science sector. Ferguson has huffed and puffed and we must now ask the question how many jobs have actually been created by SFI. The absence of rhetoric and spin suggests the answer is none. If this is so, it is like Ferguson's Renovo endeavours when not one trial drug passed approval Could SFI performance be about another failure?
by Darby O'Gill Mon Apr 08, 2013 18:28
SFI are in existence for 12 years now. There's been four people at the helm as director general, the current being Mark Ferguson, the failed entrepreneur of Renovo in Manchester. I agree with Fred that something is rotting in our semi-state across the board, but SFI and its new policies under Ferguson are not working. With now over one year in control and his letter written to Enda Kenny two months into his tenure claiming that he would provide hundreds of jobs, where are the jobs? No questions have been answered. Few jobs appear to have been created, if any! Where is the tax payers money going? Is this a gamble too far? At the moment, Sean Sherlock is debating with himself, would he joining Nessa Childers and leave the labour sinking ship. If this happens it will definitely weaken Fergusons position as being untouchable in SFI, because Sherlock was the main instigator of Fergusons appointment from Renovo in Manchester., to SFI in January 2012.
by fred Sun Apr 07, 2013 21:43
we have abundant wave and wind resources off the coast of Ireland. It's the ideal location for wave power. It's totally short sighted to let that go in favour of tax dodging US corporations.
by Bavaria - Resources & Job Creation Sun Apr 07, 2013 15:26
SFI shifted gear when Ferguson became Chief Executive in 2012. Eminent scientists did not have their contracts renewed, if they were not commercial return orientated within a much shorter time scale than previously fostered. STEM suffered in this sea change.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Tue Apr 02, 2013 15:27
In reply to Mary, I agree in total. The Sunday Times are waiting for the Freedom of Information papers to give the Irish taxpayers the full disclosure of Ferguson and SFI, Wilton Place. We now live in penal times of austerity yet this small semi-state SFI is a law onto itself. Ferguson seems to be unaccountable. Una Clifford is still operating as a legal advisor in relation to employees contracts yet her position is in human resources. The Board of Directors at present has vacancies and Ferguson is alleged to have free reign as to who gets the nod. Sherlock is a lame duck and seems to have lost control. Clare Daly seems to have been side-tracked alas by Ferguson. It baffles how a failed ego-driven dentist can hold so much power? People are suffering while they wine and dine and it appears there is not a single job created. What's going on? Would someone stand up and talk?
by Mary Ormsby - Semi-state retired Fri Mar 29, 2013 13:54
Labour yesterday got the answer and Gilmore now needs to get out but who will take over - could it be Sean Sherlock? Sherlock was given a free reign in relation to science and maths and the future of our students in this country. What has happened since is listed in the over 400+ postings. Semi-state sources have informed me in the last number of weeks that Sherlock is trying to cover his back relating to the appointment of Mark Ferguson, Renovo and now chief of SFI plus Chief Adviser to this ailing coalition government. It is ironic that Sherlock is trying to distance himself in relation to Ferguson because he has backed him up in relation to the top five academics who were pushed out of Wilton Place in the last 12 months. Richard Bruton, it appears now is trying to play catch-up and is asking some serious questions as to the direction of SFI and where Ferguson and his private investors (Kestril) are taking science in Ireland. In all my years working in semi-state I have never witnessed the rumours, the back-biting, but above all the cover-ups relating to certain appointments and dismissals in SFI which is only created in 2001.
by Misty Clouds ahead - Semi-States and Cronyism Mon Mar 25, 2013 14:06
The junkets are all back from the global exodus of the Paddy Day charade on taxpayers money.
by Brian Flannery - Semi-State and cronyism Tue Mar 19, 2013 15:53
Yes, I most definitely agree with the previous poster. Mr Ferguson appears to be so capable and eminent he should be encouraged to negotiate a deal based on creating suitable employment for the many people in desperate need of an opportunity to work ('in our lean lands').
by Robert Richards Fri Mar 15, 2013 16:59
It has been said that is we fail to learn from history we will be doomed to repeat it. I would be very surprised if Mark Ferguson has forgotten about Renovo. If he has we are doomed, it appears that if It the posts are true we are still doomed. The opportunities that present through SFI and as Chief Government Advisor are huge. It would be a fool who would forget Renovo in this light, Mark Ferguson is not a fool. It would take high ethics and strong character to avoid such a resurrection when presented with conflicting interests of the kinds noted.
by Celtic Mist - Observer Thu Mar 14, 2013 14:43
Ferguson, it is alleged has threatened to walk if his salary is not upgraded to that of CEO of Enterprise Ireland's Frank Ryan which is £420,000 plus expenses, car and driver, pension etc. Sources within semi-state have informed their outside contacts that a rift is getting bitter between Ferguson (failed Renovo boss) and Ryan, Enterprise Ireland. Sherlock is trying in vain to play down the rift and has asked advisers to uncap Ferguson's pay. Morale is at an all time low at SFI, Wilton Place and most of the senior staff including some eminent scientists have already left.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Tue Mar 12, 2013 13:01
The above posting is totally correct. The CEO of Shire Mr Russell is not a happy man in the year 2013. Reading recently on an English scientific magazine, Russell stated that one of his biggest disappointments as CEO of Shire was believing in the bluff and huf that Ferguson spun out on a monthly basis in Manchester regarding Renovo. We now know the facts. Renovo never produced a single drug or scar healing/wound medication - not even a single tablet yet it left a legacy of debts and losses between investors workers and loans exceeding £250 million. As Shire's CEO stated how could Ferguson be appointed Ireland's Chief Scientific Adviser to the government of Ireland as well as the role of DG of Science Foundation Ireland.
by Angus Russell - Semi State observer Tue Mar 12, 2013 12:13
Angus Russell CEO, Shire (Dow Jones stock exchange) stated in 2007 his company lost US$75 million it paid to Renovo now (AIM listed). The collapse of the Shire-Renovo deal was ranked at No 2 of the top ten bio-tech deal failures of 2011. It signaled the end of Renovo and Ferguson.
by Comyn - Justice Fri Mar 08, 2013 15:55
St Patrick's day at the White House Mr Flannery sounds a competitive advantage mentality at loggerheads between DG of SFI and the DG of Enterprise Ireland accentuated by the desire to be part of the chosen elite.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:45
As we are all aware next week the jumbo jets fly all the elites from the semi-states in Ireland to the White House. I wonder is Horse on the menu this year. Sources tell me the bitching has already begun in SFI and also in Enterprise Ireland and we can also include Tourism Ireland this year. SFI's Ruth Freeman has stated in internal emails that mistakes of last year will not be repeated. With Graham Love, Dodds, Murtagh, and others who have been deleted by Ferguson in the twelves months since his arrival, Freeman states clearly she has the right this year, as director of communications, she has now the right to go to the White House. However Ruth may not get her wish because Julie Sinneman and Mark Christal of Enterprise Ireland have their names on the same ticket. Next week the Irish taxpayers fork out over £1 million euros for these ego trippers.
by fly on the wall Wed Mar 06, 2013 18:23
If Mark Ferguson is as big a blatherer as Enterprise Ireland's CEO Frank Ryan, he should be well able for the job. Besides the enormous salary and pension that Ryan is undeservedly paid, think of the perks,the chauffeur-driven car, his car and horse box being insured by the tax payer ( that is if Ferguson races the nag and doesn't it have instead of a big mac), paid lunches and wine bills (why does the taxpayer pay for Ryan's meals considering the €400K salary?), etc, etc, it's a cushy wine-and-dine number to have.
by Sinead O'Callaghan - Retired semi-state Mon Mar 04, 2013 13:14
Mark Ferguson came to these shores 14 months ago. Behind him he left the legacy of failure, job losses and a bill for the English taxpayer of £100 million sterling. Now Sherlock and Bruton have appointed him as SFI DG and also to the post of Chief Scientific adviser to this Coalition government. Last week he was given a further £300 million of taxpayers money on top of the £200 million allocated to SFI each year. I do know that this has sent alarm bells through the corridors of the universities and various semi-state bodies. It is also alleged that Frank Ryan CEO of Enterprise Ireland is due to resign in the autumn and rumours are surfacing from semi-state heads that Ferguson has put his name forward to replace Frank Ryan. I dread to think that this man can run three or possibly more portfolios as I would hope, if these rumours are true, he would leave SFI to somebody independent and capable. Many people behind the scenes in the science arena are deeply concerned and I ask them now to stand up and stop the cronyism and I put the question to Minister Sherlock how come four academics have left SFI in the last 14 months while Ferguson is now free to place his own team around him. Don't forget this man played the same game in Renovo in Manchester and don't forget the legacy left there.
by Manchester Voice. - Ex Renovo worker. Fri Mar 01, 2013 14:40
Reading the above comments my old Boss came a long way from losing 250 jobs at Renovo in Manchester to running Irelands science
by marie Winter Wed Feb 27, 2013 13:11
Blake, your contribution above mirrors the spin and doctoring of the Dept. of Enterprise and Innovation as reported in the national media. They would do Dr. Goering proud! Yours however has the distinction of healthy skeptism and disbelief.
by Blake - Science: Where to now? Tue Feb 26, 2013 15:24
The powers that be did embrace change at SFI as can be seen from the foregoing postings which detail Professor Mark Ferguson's arrival at Wilton Terrace and his management style which ousted the entrenched public service mindsets in favour of the private sector philosophy. He appears to be, based on the Dick Ahlstrom article in today's Irish Times, the man who is capable of usurping the skeptical academics who sought pure research, and is the person in favour of much needed research that aims to prioritise job creation. The outcome is that the Government is kick-starting the radical reform of how it actually invests in scientific research.
by Robert Richards Tue Feb 26, 2013 10:39
Further power is being thrust on SFI with the channelling of funds to the proposed centres. What autonomy will each of these centres have? Will the funds be allocated on the basis of projects or on the reputation of the institution? The focus on jobs will according to many academics result in a detrimental diluting of science resources in Ireland.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Fri Feb 22, 2013 15:03
Having read again some of the comments to this post I find myself baffled. The delay in any of the sought information being released is clearly the opposite of that intended with the act. Is it that the true purpose of the act is to baffle? Or perhaps being simply labelled an act is sufficient to warrant pretence.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:15
by Mr Finn Bean - Academic scientist Wed Feb 13, 2013 13:43
FOI papers. Ferguson and those wagons are circled!
by Brian Flannery - Justice Mon Feb 11, 2013 14:56
Speaking to inside sources in Enterprise Ireland some days ago - the story is that the strife continues in SFI. Since Graham Love's sudden departure allegations have been on the increase in relation to how Ferguson is running the show. The bullying continues and others it is believed are soon to leave in a matter of months.
by Mary Flanagan - Retired semi-state Thu Feb 07, 2013 13:17
In the last few months I have been reading Indymedia with deep interest. SFI - Science Foundation Ireland is the talk of the semi-state sector in general. I worked for over 30 years in various semi-state quangos and I have seen first hand the bullying the established so called classes and the elite who regularly travel as if they were using their own monies. All of the time I realised the waste that went on in semi-state bodies but reading the above postings in the last number of months it has brought home to me old memories I thought had gone out with various new codes of conduct. Sadly I see this is not true. It actually has got a lot worse. I now run my own small business and I struggle like the rest. First, I want to applaud Indymeia for bringing the crisis to the attention of thousands of people relating to SFI during 2012 and especially when Ferguson arrived in January of that year.
by Cuckoo Watch - Retired semi-state Wed Feb 06, 2013 10:27
Frank Ryan, CEO or Enterprise Ireland appeared before an Oireachtas Committee some days ago. When asked by Richard Boyd Barret how many jobs Enterprise Ireland had created in 2011, the answer was astonishing. Ryan replied that it was not a good year due to the current climate and we only produced 11 new businesses. This is coming from a man with a tax payers budget of more than one billion annually. Yet this made no mainstream media headlines and this to me is a shocking indictment of the lack of real news, this is lacking in the media at present.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Mon Feb 04, 2013 14:51
The normal working hours in semi-state bodies and quangos is 9 to 5pm weekdays.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Fri Feb 01, 2013 14:11
Private companies now are making inroads into Irish science research. I noticed a good article written by Professor McInerney, Maynooth Univerisity recently when he endorsed many of the points made on this site. McInerney went onto say Ireland is going in the wrong direction and it will be to our detriment.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Mon Jan 28, 2013 14:57
The race is on for St Paddy's Day. A list of SFI members are lobbying for places on the plane to the White House. Not a bad turn around for a failed Renovo boss to be able to pick and choose his cronies to travel by his side and Sherlocks on March 17th. The question is at what cost to the Irish taxpayers? Ruth Freeman and Una Clifford must be leading the pack at present. Sources within SFI suggest that there may be a case pending against HR in relation to alleged bullying in 2012.
by Cavan man - Observer (accountant) Sat Jan 26, 2013 15:09
SFI appears to be the Quango of all Quangos (see article Sunday Business post via web £60 million to R&D). The reality is it cannot operate without input from Enterprise Ireland and the IDA.
by Finin McCool - Panic attack observer Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:41
In the year 2012 Ferguson did spend in excess of £400,000 on his own PR. Mark Tighe, Sunday Times, who came on Indymedia asking questions is still waiting for answers through the FOI papers he lodged 6 months ago. Also the Irish Daily Mail has lodged similar papers on behalf of the taxpayers of Ireland. My research in the last 6 months through sources in Enterprise Ireland have confirmed to me that only 32 jobs were created by SFI last year and of these 8 withdrew and left the country and others had their contracts terminated. As I write this I believe the Manchester Evening News is investigating historic data on Renovo. It is also alleged that Graham Love who left SFI last month is writing a book on his experiences on working in SFI and there is a possibility this will blow the story wide open and there may be some truth if good men stand up.
by Evidential - Justice Thu Jan 24, 2013 13:44
As a retired semi-state worker with over 35 years experience I am bewildered at what I hear about the recent events within SFI and the cost to the Irish taxpayers. I never passed middle management and the only reason I can give is that I never joined any internal click.
by Eagle Legal - Observer Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:53
First I want to congratulate Brian Flannery and Indymedia for bringing this ongoing scandal to the fore in relation to the massive waste of taxpayers money - just to enhance personal egos. I totally agree with Researcher in the above posting. SFI has hired a most expensive PR agency to promote their propaganda across to mainstream science in Ireland. But serious questions are arising again out of the murky waters of what really goes on behind the doors in SFI.
by Researcher Mon Jan 21, 2013 15:58
In the article in The Irish Times on 14th Jan. 2013 where Mark Ferguson is interviewed by Dick Ahlstrom, Mr. Ferguson clearly nails his and SFI's problems: "He puts the difficulties down to poor communication". "Early on it was about communications, he says.........."
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sun Jan 20, 2013 14:27
The supply chain to create STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) pool needs attention to ensure economic growth in the Ireland going forward.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Wed Jan 16, 2013 23:37
Having recently had the absolute pleasure of witnessing the enthusiasm, hope and joy of science in Ireland's Young Scientist Exhibition, I would like to offer praise to all involved. This includes Science Foundation Ireland as an apparently minor sponsor of this event and in particular to Mark Ferguson for prevailing in his tenure for an entire year today in spite of there being some criticism.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Wed Jan 16, 2013 13:29
Mark Ferguson is a full year as head of SFI Ireland today 16th January 2013. Dick Ahlstrom interviewed Mr Ferguson in the Irish Times article dated 14th January 2013 with the theme that Science Foundation Ireland director's plans are now 'better understood by the research community'. Reference is made to the dissent of certain academics to his appointment.
by Waterloo - Resilience Mon Jan 07, 2013 15:00
What a shame.
by Wilton - Knowledge economy Mon Jan 07, 2013 14:34
SFI is in the news again, thanks to Indymedia and the committed postings by various concerned people, especially those who seek to promote Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics ("STEM").
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sat Jan 05, 2013 14:24
The previous 3 postings suggest we are all coming from the same hymn sheet and 'quangoitis'.
by Ego-less Fri Jan 04, 2013 13:12
To zzzz and Watch
by Watch Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:59
ALL Waste or Not?
by zzzzz..... Thu Jan 03, 2013 19:17
Enterprise Ireland are not creating as many jobs as you think. In many instances they are using key manager employment grants to make a manager get a higher title, moving the person from one title to another, without actually hiring more people, thus inflating the numbers. You would need to get a good investigator to do some digging around the 16,000 figure. The numbers are as inflated as the egos in Enterprise Ireland.
by Brian Flannery - Semi Sector and Cronyism Thu Jan 03, 2013 15:43
Did I hear on the news today that Enterprise Ireland created 16,000+ jobs last year. If so, well done but we need so many more.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sun Dec 30, 2012 14:34
The new year is almost upon us and this site has raised question after question for over 6 months now on the conflicts of interest that may apply to the appointment of Professor Mark Ferguson as Director General on 16/01/12 to the position of Science Foundation Ireland and to the further appointment granted to him as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government later on in 2012.
by Watchdog - Scouting citizen journalism Thu Dec 27, 2012 14:34
Ultimate Financial Solutions is the new linkage to Renovo. Deal done 21/12/12 just after the sale of Prevascar on 13/12/12.
by Brian Flannery - Semi-states and cronyism Sat Dec 22, 2012 14:43
Renovo is maximizing potential for its shareholders again. This time its direction is away from the specifics of pharmaceutical, scar tissue, to the interests of being a provider of financial solutions to small and medium size enterprise in the UK (Ireland too, I would think). Renovo have invested £1.7 m in the placings ("investment") for which it will initially receive 8,659,080 ordinary shares in the capital of ULTIMATE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS. It is due to be admitted to trading on AIM on 27th December 2012. It will receive more shares at a later time.
by Burlington - Cronyism and Semi-State Fri Dec 14, 2012 15:03
Manchester Evening News.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Tue Dec 11, 2012 22:56
Maths and science performance in education
is again in the news.
by Brian Flannery - Semi-State Sun Dec 09, 2012 14:23
ESOF earlier on this year. By now SFI should know the benefits generated to Ireland from being host to such an esteemed conference.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:40
It appears that the elite of Ireland have an intention to colonise distant lands in an attempt to rid this lonely country of the resources remaining. In this I refer to the recent excursion to India, the sale of off shore rights, the removal of those academics who now seek employment abroad and the payment of funds to foreign lands in the apparent interest of the people and taxpayers of Ireland.
by Liam Fogarty - semi-state retired Tue Dec 04, 2012 12:55
The scandal continues in semi-state elite sections. The week this junket stayed in India and the cost to the Irish taxpayers is in the region I have been told by reliable sources within Enterprise Ireland is approximately £248,000. This is in my opinion a criminal act to a point in the present climate in this recession and just before Slash Wednesday, our Budget yet again against the working man/woman in this sad State. How can any minister Bruton, Sherlock, Noonan, and the rest condone such a waste of taxpayers money. I believe some members of SFI also known as Toyland Ireland travelled to India also. This is a trip that has all the hallmarks of Roddy Molloy and the FAS contingent of not so very long ago.
by Traveller 2 Sun Dec 02, 2012 17:24
Brown nose that I may appear to be, I may not condone the actions of SFI recently, however there is in later posts some defence of policies. There is a balance appearing in these posts that I believe to be welcome. I would dearly love to inspect the finances of the SFI in detail and to establish the return based on investment, I am perhaps of the impression that this is being done and as noted, there has been removed excess from the organisation in the interest of economy. Economy has been noted in this regard as being a bad thing, while simultaneously the absence of economy has too been criticised. Only with some balance in these posts will the truth be established. An emphasis on creating jobs is in the short term in science, misguided. I cite the example of Lord Rayleigh's drag equation and the subsequent development of aerodynamics as a science. The practicality that provided the means for generating employment in this example followed its initiation by a mere 50 or so years. Science is a slow means of generating jobs. Nobody can change that.
by Seamus O'Leary - retired semi-state Sun Dec 02, 2012 13:49
As the previous post stated I also have been reading the multiple comments on this particular SFI topic. Ferguson has many questions to answer - I fully agree especially in connection with Renovo Manchester. But I also have to state that SFI, which was founded in 2001, was a complete farce under Bill Harris and Frank Gannon. With the arrival of Ferguson last January and all his reported faults, he did delete all those who were surplus to requirements. What I mean by this is simply the cost of the contracts that some people were on was a scandal in itself. Some staff were on £3,000-£4,500 weekly plus expenses and they did not create a single job in this country. In fact as a semi-state retired employee myself some ex SFI staff were an obstacle in the way of progress and creating employment. I agree with Brian Flannery that Ferguson Keane Una Clifford and Ruth Freeman need to face an Oireachtas Committee but as we all know this may never happen.
by dingle paddy - taxpayer Sun Dec 02, 2012 11:32
I have been reading this topic for the past number of months and as my sister informed me some people don't like change especially when a new Head arrives in the Semi-State sector. Mark Ferguson arrived last January and he has made sweeping changes in a way nobody else before him has even thought about. People are may I say certain academics who thought they would have their contracts extended were sadly mistaken and also sometimes their wives get so used to the cosy lifestyle that they expect no less. Ferguson has many faults, I agree, and he may also have many questions to answer but right now he is in charge and he has a vision for this country and science in Ireland. He didn't really have to come to Ireland, Ferguson is a self-made multi-millionaire, and this job in SFI, as a lot of people say is just a hobby to him. He is more interested in his new role as the Governments Chief Scientific Adviser.
by Response to Traveller Thu Nov 29, 2012 21:03
The response from traveller
by Brian Flannery - Justice Thu Nov 29, 2012 13:26
60 academics along with a coterie of public servants arrive back from India today. At what cost to the Irish taxpayer just before ordinary Irish people face another painful penal budget to please the Troika and the other headless chickens in Germany and France. We thought it was all over when FAS got a major shake up but sadly I was wrong. Some members within SFI have informed me in the last few days that Ruth Freeman travelled first class and her total bill alone to the Irish taxpayer was in the region of £12,000. This woman has been pumped up by the previous SFI head Frank Gannon and now sources tell me she has been pumped up again by failed Renovo now SFI boss Ferguson. Freeman this year along has cost the Irish taxpayer for travel stamped by SFI approval in the region of £48,000. This is a scandal in itself and needs urgent attention by members of a Dail Oireachtas committee.
by Traveller 2. Mon Nov 26, 2012 20:29
SFI is struggling against a tide of turmoil, fighting to climb a mountain through a jungle of attack and criticism in order to secure the lives of the children not only of this country but of those throughout the world. As needs must, it is important, if not vital, that that future will provide jobs and a purpose even beyond mere employment. Any promise given in this political and scientific climate is an expression of hope. All attempts are worthy of praise and credit should be given where due.
by Traveller. Fri Nov 23, 2012 21:27
It is required that many of those educated travel first class to India simply to maintain their sense of reason in this country of ridiculous contradiction. Professionals wait in line for food while we seek new professionals from across the world. We seek from the rescuers their very means of rescue and throw them back in the whirlpool, laughing all the while as we sit in our spacious aircraft sipping and getting drunk on a reality most can only imagine. They dream of the next meal while we dream of conquest and riches, investing their tax in our luxury.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Fri Nov 23, 2012 14:47
Two tiers : those who have entitlements and those who have not.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Tue Nov 20, 2012 14:13
This morning at the elite RDS breakfast, the failed Renovo Professor Ferguson sat down and ate porridge with idiots who were foolish enough to pay £200 per head for the nightmare or some might call it privilege. As the breakfast meeting was going on sources within Labour party have contacted me in relation to Ferguson and their deep concerns about how this man could manufacture a CV witholding the main facts of his business of one year ago (Renovo). In the middle of all this 5 experienced journalists have now applied for FOI papers in relation to internal emails which Ferguson has blocked from the Irish taxpayers.
by Gale Vogel - B Sun Nov 18, 2012 17:00
Quango.
by STEM - Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Sat Nov 17, 2012 15:53
Another cry from the wilderness in defence of STEM!
by Julie Simeone - Maths Fri Nov 16, 2012 13:40
Now we know the aim of the game of science is profit and as quick as possible.
by Damien M - PharmaWatch Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:42
"Who runs the country?"
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Wed Nov 14, 2012 21:16
First, let's not assume that the DG of SFI is alone in “causing a major divide and contempt across this island,” even in relation to science. He has been appointed to posts and those appointing him, if the comment is accurate, share in the blame. The people of this country, and more particularly those in science academia are also responsible, through silence. From the many posts, it appears that this country is being willingly walked to slaughter. The people, like children are not having sweets taken from them on this fatal walk, but are by their own volition smiling as they freely give the sweets away.
by Academia - Opportunity to talk Wed Nov 14, 2012 15:49
It is science week.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Tue Nov 13, 2012 13:10
Yesterday in Dublin Richard Bruton addressed a gathering on how Ireland should move forward in relation to science (Science week) and the objections that lay ahead. Ferguson made his speech which was relayed on Radio 1 Drive Time yesterday at 17.45. He mentioned medical devices and the importance of commercialisation in relation to science. Sources today who contacted me - people who attended the launch yesterday, were totally in shock at the inadequate discussion about mathematics (STEM) especially how we tackle the problem in the schools and university campuses. Ferguson stated on 5 occasions to the amazement of people that he was not an arrogant man. It came to a stage where people were actually laughing in the audience. One source informed me that Bruton never looked at Ferguson while he was speaking. Sherlock apparently looked like the mouse at a Cat's Convention.
by Chestnut - Anti Corruption Mon Nov 12, 2012 14:55
Ferguson will have to face an Oireachtas Dail Committee after being slated in an article in Forbes magazine. It also shows the failures of Sherlock and Bruton in this ongoing scandal.
by Passenger, ex-teacher. Sun Nov 11, 2012 16:03
First, let me apologise for correcting punctuation with the comparison of question marks and exclamation marks. My apology is more warranted due to my own errors.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sat Nov 10, 2012 15:04
From Indymedia to Forbes (article by John Farrell) see link http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnfarrell/2012/11/09/the-...s-ire...
by The Glimmer man - STEM Thu Nov 08, 2012 14:48
A number of TD's and senators are waiting for answers concerning Professor Mark Ferguson appointed Director-General SFI in January of this year and who recently without question was appointed by Government to the role of Chief Scientific Adviser to Government with no extra remuneration just a duplication of Ferguson's workload. Conflicts of interest abound but no one seems to care. This man cannot hide much longer from the powers of the Oireachtas Committee. Taxpayers demand answers about Renovo and Fergusons dubious vested interests which quite clearly appear to be undeclared. Why has this much circulated in the media scandal received such Government protection and silence. Clearly there are questions to be answered. Scientists of world renown and eminence have been scoffed at, demeaned and shafted and this is of relevance to the future of our young people.
by Citizen 1 Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:13
Vested interest person or groups do not have the skills to make good decisions in matters of national importance or in the interest of the common weal.
by Passenger, ex teacher. Wed Nov 07, 2012 16:46
Gale Vogel explains the PQ process. If you troll through the posts on this topic, (no pun intended) there are a lot of questions. It is possible to cut and paste a list, print it our and bring some copies with you while voting on Saturday. There may be come TDs there and they can ask these questions. Choose the questions that resonate. For your convenience, I've spent some time trolling, and below are the questions. I've not included all questions, as not all have question marks. Nor have I included all 'comments' with question marks. These are all quoted questions from the posts. Good luck! (Note: not "Good luck?")
by Economic Wizard - Mathematics Economics Tue Nov 06, 2012 15:28
Where is the Vision? Why the lack of vision?
by Concerned Citizen Mon Nov 05, 2012 15:32
Sfi ought to be told that the commericalisation of science and job creation in science happened long before Mark Ferguson or SFI for that matter, came into being..
by Pamela Quirk Sun Nov 04, 2012 18:08
Do we go to the RDS and ask question where they may not be answered? Do we go to our local TDs who may choose to ask the questions that we ask? Will these be ignored also? The reality that I see since the almost complete collapse of our country is that people have remained largely quiet. The questions have been asked openly but answers have not been demanded, other than within the corrupt confines of our increasingly inept legal system. Information requests are being ignored under the freedom of information act. The abolition of posts and their inclusion in conflicting posts in order to save money, excused as streamlining.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Sat Nov 03, 2012 17:44
Our constitution makes the government responsible to An Dáil. It is required that government ministers must report on the management of their departments. Any member of An Dáil can table Parliamentary Questions (PQs) to the relevant minister. Oral PQs are answered twice weekly in the case of An Taoiseach and once every six weeks in all other cases. Written PQs are answered in writing.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sat Nov 03, 2012 14:38
by Sinead Newell - Civil service Fri Nov 02, 2012 14:24
Reading the Times on Wednesday gave me a sense of the GUBU years again.
by Reason Thu Nov 01, 2012 15:30
The appointment of Mark Ferguson is indeed bizzare. It is esentially a "finger up" to the contributers on this site who have striven, in the national interest, to expose what could be interpreted as the very questionable dealings of Mark Ferguson in his previous and possibly present positions. It is also a contemptuous response to a large swathe of the academic community who likewise have expressed concerns about the suitability of this man for the post of Director General of Science Foundation Ireland.
by Scientific Thu Nov 01, 2012 14:50
Mick
by Mick Butler Wed Oct 31, 2012 21:36
Proposal : Load in this info and turn it into PQs to the relevant Ministers, they must reply and it is then on the record.
by Scientific - Science & Mathematics Wed Oct 31, 2012 14:00
by Perri Fowler Tue Oct 30, 2012 09:30
Following this thread, I am disturbed with the latest appointment of Mark Ferguson. The Irish Government are sanctioning the actions of Mark Ferguson by this appointment (disappointment). While we are not in possession of the full facts, the rumours or questions that have been raised should have our ministers asking questions or both SFI and themselves. Who has initiated this latest post? The last comments are curious. Is this a referrence to Mawk being a four year old child or someone with the social character of a four year old child? How many times should the questions be asked, or how many times should the information be sought before someone in authority wakes up. They could quell the fears or concerns of the Irish people and respond to the articles in the national press, the questions here and respond lawfully to the request under the freedom of information act.
by Robert Richards Sun Oct 28, 2012 23:28
Thewe awe two types of knowing, those you know and those you don't. When placed in the context of cwonyism this is of vital impowtance. Do people get jobs because they awe known, I knew Mawk when I was a child, I knew him to be slightly conceited, he thought that the wouwld wevolved awound him. He would laugh at the misfowtune of Lauwel. He would take cake hoping not to be seen. You don't know him! I wouldn't give him a job, because I knew him when he was fouw yeaws old. I have seen his faults the same way I have seen the faults of my own bwothews and sistews. I wouldn't give my own child a job, he's too unweliable, he's thwee. Maybe I'd never give him a job, for I know him now to be unweliable. He's also undew qualified for any job, apawt from pewhaps DG of SFI. If I know somebody well, I know theiw faults and if they'we good enough for the job I might ovewlook theiw childhood foibles and go ahead and appoint them. This is a BIG maybe! Cwonyism! It is faw easiew to believe the hype that a stwangew pwovides and appoint them wegawdless of my own childhood fwiend Mawk being pewhaps mowe suitable. Ow you might pewhaps appoint Mawk, believing his hype simply due to him being a stwangew. Eithew way, it seems impossible to know what is wight ow wwong. My own qualification awe gweat and vawied, but I can't get a job in Iweland because I have a speech impediment, I can't pwonounce my aww's. They know my education and define me by my faults. They don't know his faults, and believe his education and define him by what they see. They believe what they see! I could choose to explain myself without highlighting any fault, by simply discounting the speech impediment. I could focus on my qualifications and ability without highlighting any fault. But if questioned it would be difficult to avoid, the hues of lights at junctions cannot be stated without my faults being displayed.
by Seneca. Sun Oct 28, 2012 16:48
At a time when the rest of Europe is re-discovering the importance of maths and engineering to their economic recovery one of Ireland's major funding agencies, Science Foundation Ireland, decides these areas of expertise are not worth funding! - Most extraordinary.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Sat Oct 27, 2012 00:52
Professor Mark Ferguson is appointed as Chief Scientific Advisor to the Irish Government on Friday 26th October. Richard Bruton describes this latest move as a consolidation of resources. It has been suggested that this of itself poses a conflict of interest as evaluation and assessment are now to be by the same party. Sean Sherlock, Pat Rabbitte, and now Richard Bruton and by extension and leadership Enda Kenny are all party to an affirmation of the role that Mark Ferguson holds. Perhaps they know more than the answers to the questions raised in these posts. If so, it is vital that this information is divulged. Who is pulling the strings? The man who claimed to be “running a country” appears to be more correct than any of us imagined. The influence that he holds has now been increased dramatically, he can advise our guardians to sell the oil fields, our energy, he is well positioned to share information with other stakeholders. Stakeholders in what?
by hideandseek Fri Oct 26, 2012 18:16
Frank Ryan of enterprise Ireland is retiring before the end of the year and on a extravagant pension too so he can say whatever he wants now about the lack of research in science and maths in the months before he retires.
by Autumn - Cronyism Fri Oct 26, 2012 14:33
'Worked in SFI for approximately 4 years'!
by Brian Flannery - Justice Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:20
Sfi now has entered the Offshore oil exploration agenda with Ferguson leading the pack of sheep Academics. Who in Goverment sanctioned this change in SFI policy. SFI was founded to enhance Science and Maths/ Why the sudded change of direction.
by Gale Vogel - B Thu Oct 25, 2012 21:05
Tánaiste Eamonn Gilmore today said, “we will not tolerate any disapprobation or any misuse of Irish taxpayers' money” in relation to the unauthorised diversion of aid funds to Uganda that came to light today. It is very gratifying to know the care and attention that our leaders practice regarding the use of our valuable taxpayers' money. How much is it that the DG of SFI can apparently spend without proper sanction? It has been cited as being up to €3 million, just one million less than that apparently lodged into an unauthorised account in Kampala. Can we all rest assured that the allocation of funds through SFI will not be similarly misused? Are senior members of SFI to travel to Kampala in the very near future? What is the purpose of such a visit? It was the auditor general in Uganda who brought this €4 million to the attention of the Irish Government. Perhaps it might also be warranted to watch the actions of other state sponsored organisations visiting the region, and other regions where any unauthorised diversion of funds may be possible.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Thu Oct 25, 2012 14:46
Frank Ryan head of Enterprise Ireland (semi-state) spoke on radio this morning in relation to science or the lack of research in Science. Mr Ryan went on to say we need to focus urgently on science and maths. This is totally inept communication given EI and SFI share the same building at Wilton Place, Dublin 2. Again we can re-iterate that the decision to appoint Ferguson was driven by a motive of fast track commercial gain to £1.3 billion portfolio built up since inceptionof SFI in 2003. Quite clearly our politicians have an eye to making quick commercial gains, which is what the Government needs given the economic crisis in Ireland. The problem is: Conflicts of interest. Profit driven access to potential investments via our University hub networks. Senior staff at SFI should hold their heads in shame. They have failed to stand up to the bully Ferguson. Meantime - mathematics, science and our young people.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Wed Oct 24, 2012 19:32
Pat Rabbitte celebrates the change to digital T.V. Today. Digitising information has been practised throughout Ireland with planning applications being freely available easily and quickly. The internet has proven to be of high value in both seeking and dissipating information as can easily be attested to in these pages on indymedia. It is therefore incomprehensible that information which should be freely available is so effectively blocked. The apparent and repeated seeking of information through the Freedom of Information Act has been corrupted in the interest of a very small number of people. Were this information provided, to reiterate would, where protocol and ethics have been followed, demonstrate the many comments here noted to be unfounded. It is perhaps becoming too late for this to be effective due to the refusal to issue apparently harmless information. However, a refusal to show the colour red can never demonstrate it to be green. Turning the lights off to say that we are all smiling is insulting to the intelligence of those seeking answers. Freedom of access to information that concerns the Irish people, especially from state controlled organisations should be easily available without delay. Scans of information should be available on line, similar to that of seeking planning application information.
by Erin's Eye - Watchdog Wed Oct 24, 2012 14:16
4 different newspapers have applied for the Freedom of Information Act to try and get the full facts in relation to failed dentist from Manchester now D-G of Science Fiction Ireland. Fergusons blatant refusal backed up by the board of SFI is making journalists more focused on finding out the truth. He recently was refused Government Financial backing too try and silence his critics on this site and in the national media. Questions keep mounting but sources coming from Enterprise Ireland allegedly a leaked document states that Ferguson and his other partner Max Royde both also Renovo connections are involved in the exploration of oil in many countries. These sources believe not just has Ferguson major interests in Shell but he is now turning his focus towards Tullow Oil. This is most disturbing and also he has sent out some engineers to Kampala on a scouting expedition. This man is unfit for purpose and as this site and the Phoenix repeatedly state - he is money mad.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Tue Oct 23, 2012 14:01
It now appears that Ferguson is a very vital component in the Shell operation (could it be biofuels!!!) in the Corrib. Last month he hosted a meeting beside Pat Rabbitte in relation to oil exploration off the west coast of Ireland. Ferguson now is blatantly abusing his position as SFI chief and also sources inform us that he is technically a director of the failed Renovo ... and substantial shareholder. I now ask the question why this coalition is allowing this man to abuse his power or may I say his blatant arrogance in abuse of his portfolio as SFI chief. This portfolio and the areas to be covered shamefully excludes mathematics and science. Yet Ferguson is only interested in commercialisation and profit. He now is evidently pissing on all academics from our leading Universities particularly those in the fields of Mathematics and Economics. I again ask about the alarming number of shares he holds in Shell and how some months ago he said openly in the Sunday Times 'that he runs this country'. Sadly nobody to date has dismissed his comments.
by Pamela Quirk Mon Oct 22, 2012 20:56
The Irish Times last weekend, the posts here, the falling standards over the past decades in our schools and the excuses. The question that needs to be asked is whether the SFI is viable. How many jobs have been created through the efforts of SFI over the years since its establishment? Could the funds be issued proportionately to each college, based on the calibre of professors and post grad students. Maths standards as noted in the Irish Times article are effected right from the stratosphere to the deep mantle, from the highly qualified to the child in pre-school. Where funding is withdrawn from anywhere it effects everywhere. Where funding is diverted through a mechanism it is diluted and lacks efficiency. There has been a focus in SFI on creating jobs, what success? This focus takes the emphasis away from education. It also copies other organisations, EI, IDA, enterprise boards, so why more? The support structure for education is full of the qualified. The same support structure for assisting corporations and enterprise through science and maths is full of the same qualified. The qualified focus on their field, the more qualified are often more focussed, this means that they perhaps lack the experience or ability to make important decisions on who gets what. They are needed perhaps to advise, but not decide. The IDA, EI et all are already there. SFI needs to support education and research. SFI could be a department in any of the others. As said this could save the Irish taxpayer money, that is correct. But to say that it could save the full budget is misleading, that money is still needed for the support of education and research.
by Retired semi-state - Science Spin Mon Oct 22, 2012 15:32
I have been reading this topic on Cronyism and inadvertently articles in the press for some months now. I have learned a lot from the comments. As a retired academic myself I have the advantage of age and hindsight to say a few words.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Sun Oct 21, 2012 23:04
What effect has SFI had in terms of strategy for Ireland? There should be statistics available for the amount of investment has been provided for those seeking to establish in Ireland and thereby information on the amount of jobs generated. Information should also be available as to the efficacy on the technological trade improvements arising out of SFI funding. Impacts on employment and any other improvement to the Irish economy from investment made by the tax payers of Ireland needs to be highlighted in order to lift the spirit of an injured community. More pointedly this is needed in order to demonstrate that decisions made have been informed and intended for the greater good.
by Private sector worker - Justice Sat Oct 20, 2012 15:27
Quangos used to be the battle cry of Fine Gael and what they were going to do. Instead they are focused on bleeding every drop of blood from the private sector and middle income Ireland by way of taxes on income versus wealth.
by Sean Gannon Sat Oct 20, 2012 10:53
Many postings have been put up here in the past number of months. Serious questions remain. It now exceeds Renovo now it goes onto Shell Oil. Ferguson needs to come out now and stop obstructing people from getting the information that the Irish taxpayer is entitled to. Sources within SFI are deeply concerned of the number of people who have been bullied and harassed out of their jobs. Una Clifford is illegally acting as the lawyer for SFI and shortly down the road Una will have serious questions to answer. She signed contracts solo in her name and now the facts state she did not have the authority to do so. Una is only part-time in HR SFI, yet she acts as if she is the Attorney General. Ferguson will not back her up when things begin to get complicated. Let's be honest not one question has been answered so far on this site or in the main stream media.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Fri Oct 19, 2012 11:55
Science is the both the practical and theoretical application of knowledge about the physical and natural world. In this definition is evidence that science in fact pre-dates much of early civilisation. The cultivation of domestic crops, the breeding of domestic animals, art and observation of the heavens have all been demonstrated and accepted as having occurred well over five thousand years ago, even in Ireland. It is shocking for anyone to state that it “started in Europe about four hundred years ago”. There is ancient evidence throughout the world of 'science' so long before this that it beggars belief to have a pivotal member of the Irish scientific community state this publicly. This together with the 'carefully prepared' introduction of Craig Venter recently is demonstrative of someone who fails to prepare.
by Pamela Quirk Thu Oct 18, 2012 16:58
Did Sherlock stand on front of many academics today at the RAI to endorse the actions of SFI and in particular Mark Ferguson?
by Retired Academic - Education Thu Oct 18, 2012 15:05
RIA - today is the day. Will our academics as listed both today and yesterday have a voice about the negativity of SFI DG Professor Mark Ferguson to mathematics and our young people, their education, their future contribution to our country.
by Retired Academic - Education Wed Oct 17, 2012 14:12
When do we join together and say stop to semi-state, public service, HSE.
by Employee semi-state sector - Semi-State Tue Oct 16, 2012 14:57
I have been following this thread for months now with deep interest. It is not boring to say the least. Ferguson has many questions to answer I agree but my question is simple:-
by Brian Flannery - Justice Mon Oct 15, 2012 14:29
by Scholar Sun Oct 14, 2012 22:26
There has been discussion here of the SFI Board. Look at the SFI Annual Reports, available for download at:
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sat Oct 13, 2012 14:26
T. Your suggestion makes good common sense, a graph would put together information that could create new questions.
by T Fri Oct 12, 2012 23:16
Someone who has time and interest should take the information presented so far here and draw up some kind of sheet with the names of the various people and their position and relations to Renovo and SFI and I am quite sure just doing that will clarify and solidify some of the relationships and facts. It could be quite instructive and make open up other questions no-one has thought of yet.
by Watchdog Fri Oct 12, 2012 20:12
Gale, in your posting, this is the address noting that Mark Ferguson was still the Director of Renovo up to February 2012.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Fri Oct 12, 2012 00:05
Mark Ferguson was appointed DG of SFI, taking up the post on 16th January 2012 after presumably signing a declaration of any possible conflicts of interest.
by Manchester News - Media Wed Oct 10, 2012 14:18
by Eleanor Tripp Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:37
From my reading of the contributions above and others, it appears to me that SFI has been hijacked in the interests of Mark Ferguson and a few others. This is absolutely outrageous.
by Pamela Quirk Tue Oct 09, 2012 08:57
Do Innovation Advisory Partners, like any consulting company advise? This type of company take a commission for introducing applicants to the source of funds. Where directors of these consultancies have a direct connection with the grant body there arrises an opportunity for exploitation. Where funds can be directed through these companies, and the directors of the grant body (SFI for instance) have a direct connection with the consulting company there arrises a conflict of interest. Is this why the query has risen? The widening web of intrigue is likely over time to include anyone in any authoriy in the country, especially related to science and education.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Mon Oct 08, 2012 21:43
Innovation Advisory Partners, a private limited company set up in Ireland in 2011, has historic links with SFI. What warrants such a company to be established at such a fragile economic period in Irish history? It appears to be a company of international or global proportions or a clear mark of modern globalization. Modern globalization has at times the appearance of a cooperative between the peoples of disparate regions when in fact it is more often an amalgam of corporations and institutions under the control of corporate enterprise. The system of shared cost in investment in research and innovation means essentially that contractual control of the commercial viability is often vested in the corporation providing the matched funding. It has been required that the recipients of SFI funding seek higher proportion of private matched funding. Therefore the real value of that supported rests with the private investors and not the tax payers who may be footing a large bill or the lions share of the expense. Innovation Advisory Partners claims to “cultivate innovation through partnership” and “serve a select portfolio of clients from business, government and academia.” The trend towards corporate controlled academia has taken hold, due in part to the lack of sufficient public funding arising out of the Irish states persistence in bailing out unsecured bond holders.
by Truth Mon Oct 08, 2012 16:43
There appears to be so much cover up and with-holding of information at SFI that the suspicion is huge that D-G Ferguson and SFI Board members are up to all sorts of tricks. Maybe some misdemeanours too!
by Brian Flannery - Justice Mon Oct 08, 2012 14:56
The questions have been asked on this site to the SFI Board and Minister Sherlock.
by Gale Vogel - B Sat Oct 06, 2012 23:38
Looking through the list of directors of SFI there appears a balance, with some having extensive academic and research experience while others hold or have held posts in high profile companies. Professor Patrick Fotrell has or has had links with Westgate Biological Ltd who have developed LactiSAL, an antibacterial topically applied technology. This company could perhaps be in direct competition with Renovo. Others have or had links with Creganna Tactx Medical or Clarigen. Some of the links are noted on SFI's website while others are not. Is this perhaps due to the contacts having lapsed? While it is perhaps important for SFI to have corporate experience in adviser, it is also important for these links to be divulged. As has been noted in previous posts, any connections that could pose a conflict of interest must be divulged. Any SFI decisions where there could be conflict must not include the connected director or adviser. It could therefore be assumed that any possible grant application made by Renovo or an Irish subsidiary should not include anyone with links to either Westgate or Renovo. The intention is that any decision to withhold funding based on a vested interest must be avoided.
by Legal Eagle Sat Oct 06, 2012 17:34
According to the Sunday Times (30th. Sept.2012) and this site, SFI is refusing to disclose emails and declarations of interests by Mark Ferguson and the SFI Board members. Why is this the case when members of the Oireachtas have to do so?
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Thu Oct 04, 2012 23:19
The exhaustion of options is being employed, not only by those posting, but in the seeking through the freedom of information act, correspondence by hard media. SFI apparently refused to release the requested information on the basis that to so do would not be in the interest of the 'Irish Public'. This assumes the 'Irish Public' to be idiots and is highly insulting. Those exalted should afford to their employers (the Irish Public) the privilege of knowing their very hard earned tax to be well appointed. In Ireland, there is an apparent image of democracy, an autocracy in disguise it may well be where the silencing of questioners may well be successful. We are all citizens of Europe, where rot is the result of a new hierarchy of wealth that dictates the payment to unsecured bond holders of the assets of the Irish nation. This system permeates to institutions run by self appointed 'kings' who can apparently refuse to adhere to rules established to protect the people while harvesting their very life blood.
by Seán Crudden - impero Thu Oct 04, 2012 20:22
Well Miss Windy Bird. Where do you fit into all this? What is your particular interest? Have you exhausted all the channels open to you? What exactly do you want done if it is any different? Or are you just another floating flying Jeremiah?
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Wed Oct 03, 2012 17:49
A discussion requires two sides, the refusal to release information under the freedom of information act, the refusal to answer questions, the failure even to partake of this 'discussion' is self flagellation. Perhaps from the exalted heights of the heavenly correct this floating rock is”populated by a gaggle of low-class bullies”, however, those of us who are merely human and beleaguered with the effects of rampant corruption in Ireland are entitled to know the purpose of our tax bill. These are simple questions that can easily be answered, if it is considered in the interest of the Irish public, or perhaps not if it is considered in some vested interest. This “hackneyed rhetoric” is reflected in mainstream media with a number of articles published as noted in these posts. To my view these are not for the most part a personal attack on any individual, other than perhaps the odd occasion where stress and frustration results in some being labelled as “low-class bullies” or other inappropriate or offensive language. These are an indictment of a system in freefall.
by low-brow Wed Oct 03, 2012 17:35
Mr. Crudden , you certainly seem to be very tetchy in your defence of the character of Mark Ferguson by the "gaggle of low-class bullies" on this site. I am surprised such a self elevated high-brow like your good self would deign to read Indymedia.
by Seán Crudden - impero Wed Oct 03, 2012 15:07 sean at impero dot iol dot ie Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth 0879739945
It seems to me that the pages of indymedia are being exploited in a quasi-conspiratorial fashion to mount a rotten smear campaign against Mark Ferguson who, like any citizen of Ireland, is entitled to his good name and safety from personal attack. The hackneyed rhetoric and constant repetition seems to me to be totally appalling broken record technique. I do not know how any rational discussion about science or science policy or the ramifications of science policy in Ireland could be carried on on this thread which is populated by a gaggle of low-class bullies.
by Ruth Newell - Justice Wed Oct 03, 2012 14:40
Graham Love the man who believe he knows all but reality tells us this means Fuck all.
by Blake - Observer Wed Oct 03, 2012 14:31
Sitting on the bus on Stephen's Green, some people standing outside aiming to make someone else's negative equity, their gain, as the Allsop Space Fire Sale takes place.
by Truth Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:54
Can we trust the Management team at SFI? Probably not - Robotics "Doctors" - Tools of Ferguson D-G of SFI "Their's not to reason why..."
by Beleagured Tue Oct 02, 2012 13:22
Mark Tighe's report in the Sunday Times 30/09/2012 is extremely disturbing. The fact that Mark Ferguson was appointed by a selection panel and ratified by the board at SFI and Government Ministers speaks volumes of the unsuitability, lack of knowledge and understanding,and most worryingly the lack of morality and principles by those who settled him at the helm of SFI. How could a man, with a reputation like his, have got through the filter system, set up I hope, for those appointed to such positions in our state agencies?
by southern comfort Mon Oct 01, 2012 21:05
Most people would think that German professors would be clever with numbers and have plenty of cop-on.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Mon Oct 01, 2012 14:17
The Sunday Times, 30th September 2012, has put this scandal at the gates of who will tell the TRUTH now.
by Concerned Citizen Mon Oct 01, 2012 13:17
Major progress is being reported on Renovo - Ferguson, Director -General of SFI, taking over the country, like he said he would. He starts by positioning his Renovo buddies in influential roles at SFI. See Sunday Times of 30th Sept.2012. "Science Boss backs drug firm directors". He travels the world, in first class at Irish tax payers expense, on Renovo business. At SFI he pushed out any serious challenge to himself and or to his dubious and questionable management style. He presides with the help of his hand-picked team over a system of bully-boy tactics and the worse type of patronage. He talks openly of "useless academics" that need to be told a thing or two. He is trying to stop funding to mathematics and engineering on the grounds of their un-productiveness. He sneers at Government Ministers and shouts about putting them into their worm hole. Is Renovo - Ferguson unstoppable? It certainly seems so.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Mon Oct 01, 2012 11:17
by Brian Flannery Sat Sep 29, 2012 15:03
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Thu Sep 27, 2012 20:18
Incompetence has in the SFI case two possible meanings; simply being unable or the absence of power to act legally or professionally. It appears strongly probable that it is professional or legal incompetence by higher management arising out of the lack of honourable intention. The ability of those being removed is the brain drain being imposed by the management (DG and appointing politicians) and in no way reflects negatively on the professionalism of “the academics who have left the circus”. It is hoped that their ability will be suitably employed to provide Ireland with the continued reputation of excellence in the scientific field.
by Gale Force Winds Thu Sep 27, 2012 13:59
WHAT DOES CRONYISM MEAN?
by Crocodile Dundee - Justice Wed Sep 26, 2012 14:14
by Perri Fowler Wed Sep 26, 2012 09:28
Pamela, is your son a young DG. Running a country while doing SFI (Sweet f**k Ill)
by Pamela Quirk Wed Sep 26, 2012 09:20
I've been awake sine 6 this morning looking forward to sitting down and getting my daily fix of indymedia. My 3 year old son talks all the time and asks questions. Today he was watching a cartoon about a king, I want to run a country and do sweet f**k ill. I asked him what he had said, I thought is strange. He had said he wanted to run country, like a king doing Sweet F**k Ill (SFI). I normally wait until his morning nap before thinking about SFI and indymedia but this morning there were too many reminders. His constant questions, each answer only leading to another question reminded me of Gale Vogels posts. but why? How? Who? and so on. Could Gale be a young child only asking again and again. With each time she assumes an answer more questions.
by Bemused Tue Sep 25, 2012 21:21
Haven't we had enough of alleged cronyism, lack of integrity, covert dealings and dirty tricks by SFI? And now we are being treated (at least according to this site) to the laughable spectacle of Ruth Freeman (aptly named Freetravel on this site) of SFI allegedly seeking the position of Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government!! The arrogance of the people at SFI. Are we being reduced to the scraping of the barrell?
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Tue Sep 25, 2012 19:35
“Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) invests in academic researchers and research teams who are most likely to generate new knowledge, leading edge technologies and competitive enterprises in the fields of science and engineering...”
by Mr Bean - Academic Tue Sep 25, 2012 14:06
by Parent Mon Sep 24, 2012 21:38
I agree with Flannery. I think Vogel may have missed a fundamental issue. SFI no longer caters for the fundamental sciences, Engineering and Mathematics, the core that gave credence for its existance. Failure to do this is a good enough reason for its demise. Catering for self interest in the case of Feguson or for private gain of a few selected individuals is no justification for its survival. Get rid of Ferguson and his cronies, clean up the SFI Board of self interested greedy incompetent individuals., back to its basic fundamental remit and maybe, just maybe, there is enough reason to keep it going, even at huge expense to the taxpayer.
by Graduate Mon Sep 24, 2012 21:27
I understand the view of Gale Vogel. But he has failed to recognise that SFI's remit has changed. It was once fundamental, underpinning science and engineering. Now it is into fast return and profit, all delusional of course. But even giving them the benefit of the doubt, there still is "Maybe".
by Brian Flannery - Justice Mon Sep 24, 2012 13:47
I take Vogels comments as constructive insight on what we must preserve in relation to Maths and Science. The vested interests are a different matter. Ferguson is not here to improve our science going forward, he is here for profit.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Mon Sep 24, 2012 09:06
Is there intended a sinister disbanding of SFI?. The diluting of IDA and Enterprise Ireland funds with those of the SFI could cause a reduction in overall funding while giving the appearance of increased support for development. Assume each has half a billion to invest. IDA could have this increased to one full billion by adding both the others. These could be combined to form one new organisation. The IDA “is responsible for the attraction and development of foreign investment in Ireland”, as such it need not even consider science other than in the context of direct corporate interest. “Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprise in world markets”. While both are compatible, they are clear follow on concepts to that of SFI. “Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) invests in academic researchers and research teams who are most likely to generate new knowledge, leading edge technologies and competitive enterprises in the fields of science and engineering...” The amalgamation of these three organisation would therefore impact to a great extent on the funding of the department in the new organisation replacing SFI. As Enda Kenny has stated, we need to create jobs and viable business in the short term. Is it the policy of Enterprise Ireland to provide funding on the basis of short term viability? For instance generating within three years a turnover of one million Euro while employing ten full time staff as being a requirement for funding. This would automatically preclude any innovative research by the then SFI department. Funds would be provided for the quick reaction and not the serious research in long term development. As has been posted, this would have serious consequences for the long term viability of Ireland as a corporate destinations. Are we then destined as a location for cheap labour? Our 'brain drain' continues, those remaining may only have options of low earning, with a revision of minimum wages and perhaps short term tax incentives used in order to attract investment. As with many companies, these incentives are short lived and can only truly offer a temporary solution that would provide employment of a seasonal or migrate kind. This does not provide long term security.
by Member of the community Sun Sep 23, 2012 20:51
Frank McCabe's article in The Sunday Business Post (23.09.2012) was very damning of SFI, - an organisation lacking in integrity led by "me too" incompetents like Love, onetime acting D-G and Renovo Ferguson.
by Concerned Sun Sep 23, 2012 20:44
Reply to Chestnut:
by Chestnut - Hubs of Creativity Sun Sep 23, 2012 16:37
Yes Brian. Your posting caught my attention and I decided to treat myself to the Sunday Business Post and a coffee in Starbucks like others who are not following the Mayo Donegal match.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sun Sep 23, 2012 13:51
Former Chairman of Intel, Frank McCabe, came out strongly today in relation to SFI and funding. McCabe stated that SFI has lost its way regarding funding the proper projects. He went on to state that mathematics and science are being totally neglected by Ferguson D-G SFI and his monkeys! It is now inevitable that SFI will amalgamate into the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. This will not suit Crocodile Ferguson and it will also put the shits up Donal Keane, Una Clifford (who has many questions to answer) and not forgetting free knicks Freeman.
by Pink Panther - Justice Seeker Sat Sep 22, 2012 15:27
Eoin O'Driscoll never explained how his daughter Eimer landed in Ferguson office. Could anyone answer the simple question as raised so many times before on this site?
by Helpful Fri Sep 21, 2012 16:12
Reply to Insomnia et al.
by Insomnia Fri Sep 21, 2012 15:47
Indymedia and the creator of this site on" Cronyism...." have done this State a great service. They have done their research on the appointment of Mark Ferguson and on " the goings on" at SFI. This should have been done by the well paid selection panel and directors of SFI but clearly they only saw their role as rubber stamping the agenda of the "String Pullers". Sfi is everything a state agency should not be, thanks largely to hugely incompetent management and a greedy indifferent board of directors.
by Perri Fowler Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:24
Surfing through the net, looking for conspiracies and stumbled on this. Too much information, well no, not enough!!! I look for conspiracies in order to suffer from insomnia, to allow me to stay awake and aware through the long nights of minding other peoples empty offices. It makes me so annoyed that while reading I ignore the sound of breaking glass downstairs and continue. The local kids like throwing stones at derelict offices, I hope.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:23
First I want to thank the Editors of Indymedia for downloading the relevant SFI code of conduct and Contract laws. Good move just in case SFI or Sherlock got memory loss/ Cllare Daly has compiled a series of questions for Brendan Howlin along with other TDs who are unhappy to say the least with the appointment
by Pamela Quirk Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:16
If these documents are available they should list the interests of all directors and employees, where these pose a conflict of interest. What if they have not kept to protocol and are not available. This would question those appointing the DG. Is there an alterior motive in this appointments. It could serve the government well is SFI was disbanded and funds were then available to disperse elsewhere. This is not unusual in corporate politics, appointing a dud, scapegoat in order to cause the collapse of a department. Shareholders are then informed of the closure on the basis of it not being viable. The scapegoat, dud, is fired, they are very often victims of their own blind ambition.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Wed Sep 19, 2012 19:45 In response to the questions raised in these posts, it is possible for one to seek under the 'Freedom of information act' documents relating to the appointments made within state or semi-state organisations. In effect, this is information relating to that funded by the Irish tax payer. The following are legal based formats for controlling any potential conflict of interest state related appointments. These are needed for anyone considering taking up a position with SFI or similar organisations. code_of_conduct_for_boardmembers_v2.1_approved_at_board_6.09_dec2009.pdf 0.08 Mb coi_policy_sfi_staff_members.pdf 0.08 Mb
by Scientist Wed Sep 19, 2012 13:40
After Mark Ferguson's insulting comments about Engineering to anyone who will listen, now Mathematics is being treated with utter distain by Renovo-Ferguson and his cronies.
by Mr Bean - Pissed off Society Ireland Wed Sep 19, 2012 13:06
When Crocodile Ferguson signed his contract to be Commander in Chief of Toyland, Section 16, clearly states, on the contract: any employee who has any other business interest especially shareholdings in another company must put it on his record before he even applies for the semi-state position. This is clearly a most serious matter now for non Minister Surecock and let us not forget the wimp, as Ferguson calls him, Bruton who lost a pile of sterling notes in property in the UK last week (wiped out). Ferguson at the moment is under pressure from his third wife - Shari O'Share Kane. She feels Indymedia has stripped them naked and her once well hung crocodile is now like a poodle suffering from piles.
by Taxpayer Tue Sep 18, 2012 15:25
Graham Love is now offering an olive branch to the community he not so very long ago, it could be argued, spurned and belittled. He was and still is the Director of Strategy and Communications. He hunts with the fox and runs with the hounds. He is the guy who the string ruller(s) made D-G of Sfi for 6 weeks(!) in order to keep the seat hot for Ferguson. Have a look at some of the remarks on the early part of this site which were made by Ferguson's supporters. They seem to be similar to those a Director of Communications would make!!
by William Harris - Retired scientist Mon Sep 17, 2012 13:42
I want to add to this SFI scandal that is ongoing on Indymedia.
by W. Finnerty Sun Sep 16, 2012 16:21
Reply to Brian Flannery - Justice at Sun Sep 16, 2012 14:12
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sun Sep 16, 2012 14:12
A recent meeting at the National Toy Creche at Wilton Place - Graham Love:Love me proposed to track down the people who are posting on Indymedia. This man Love is a reject in the private sector and is known to boast he slept and conquered the Warren Beattie record of 470 notches. I say No to Love - the only notch you have is on your pink boxers!
by W. Finnerty Sat Sep 15, 2012 17:32
Reply to Taxpayer at Sat Sep 15, 2012 16:12 ...
by Taxpayer Sat Sep 15, 2012 16:12
However unsuitable Mark Ferguson is as D-G of SFI (and I believe he is most unsuitable) nevertheless it appears that the rot at SFI goes much deeper.
by W. Finnerty Fri Sep 14, 2012 23:26
Reply to "Transparent" at Wed Sep 12, 2012 21:22 ...
by Seneca Fri Sep 14, 2012 14:10
Over-emphasis on comercially oriented research (check out Helga Nowotny's morning interview on 13th Sept.2012) is getting nowhere. How could it?
by Liam Kenny - Colleges Fri Sep 14, 2012 10:12
Donal Keane master bully in SFI recently told a female member of staff dont complain to Siptu you are wasting your fucking time. Keane is known to have a deep hatred of Trade unions but his past at Drogheda Hospital is catching up fast, Bully Keane knows who to harass like his fellow Cronie Una Clifford but the papers are coming and the truth always comes out from within. Ferguson is giving a bullshit lecture at Royal Irish Academy next week people will be watching,
by Pamela Quirk Fri Sep 14, 2012 10:11
I've recently been informed that the C.V. presented by Mark Ferguson is highly creative. This 'jewel' that is of such high value to the Irish people is a charlatan. The effect this is having on our country is terrible, I know people who are leaving this country becouse the options are not there, highly educated people. Teh brain drain.
by Fly on the wall Thu Sep 13, 2012 17:40
With the demise of the Celtic Tiger the masks of civility and respectability dropped at SFI. The treatment of some of our colleagues by those in charge was unethical, savage and disgraceful, nothing short of white collar thuggery. Thanks to these people the brain drain at SFI is now almost complete. These very same people are now trying to convince the community that they are acting in the community's best interest, "The Irish taxpayer deserves no less". The disgrace of such blatant lies.
by Concerned parent & taxpayer Thu Sep 13, 2012 14:34
Can you explain to me Mr. Ferguson who phoned you in relation to Eimear O'Driscoll (appointed 3 months ago) as your new PA?
by Transparent Wed Sep 12, 2012 21:22
A message for Government with special reference to SFI.
by The Graduate Wed Sep 12, 2012 21:12
Graham Love - action needed urgently!
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Wed Sep 12, 2012 17:06
OECD has established that as little as 4% of secondary school time is devoted to science in Ireland. The standards of both science and maths in Ireland is below the international levels for the average 15 year old. In a country that prides itself and even relies on the sciences in restoring the economy this is appalling. Funding into research in science in Ireland is vital in the current climate, more so perhaps than at any time in the past. Research funding in Ireland promotes an interest in science through the development of new and ground breaking technology. This in turn generates interest in the subject by our young, the very future of this country. Implied in this is the possibility that reduced or diverted funding will reduce further this already poor interest. The diversion of funding to commercial interest in favour of colleges will further generate an apathy that will have more leaving this land for greener pastures. The brain drain so maligned in the past is being encouraged. Comments from Michael Noonan stating this exodus to be a “free choice of lifestyle” is a demonstration of the blindness and practised ignorance of the reality by our leaders that has itself led to the SFI débâcle.
by Manchester Observer. - Ex Renovo. Wed Sep 12, 2012 09:51
I worked for Ferguson for 7 years and got buttons after his wet dream fell apart. Ferguson and wife received 18 million stg Justice for the workers No, Ferguson is totally against trade unoins and sources tell us in Manchester he bullies staff in SFI who are members of a Trade union. How did this arrogant bastard land the job as Chief of Science in Ireland it is bizzare, I notice Graham Love on Twitter talking horseshit using spin to enhance the ego of Ferguson,
by Liam Kenny - Concerned Gratuate Tue Sep 11, 2012 09:03
Graham Love SFI came a long way from his first job at the Mart in Ballymote Co Sligo and then MS iRELAND. Yesterday Love known as the Pointer wrote a piece on the Irish Times which literally attacked all Scientists and Researchers on this Island, Graham get a fucking grip and stop trying to please the boss Ferguson. You are clueless a laughing stock this morning even Donal Keane broke his balls laughing last night You want Fergusons Job sorry you cannot have Graham all in life. You went to Gonzales hated all contact sport yet tell all in the Terenure Inn you could have played scrum half for England.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Tue Sep 11, 2012 09:02
We each are responsible for our own decisions and actions. The DG of SFI appears to be laying the blame for his massive income on our leaders despite there being evidence to the effect that he actively sought his income package. To what extent is he correct? The ministers were responsible for acting and responding to the request for breaking the wage ceiling, Ferguson was responsible for asking. The blame game as always diverts attention from the real problem and that is related to honour and performance. The posts here lay testament to the DG travelling in the interest of companies not officially connected with SFI, companies in which he holds shares. Who holds shares or has any interest in Renovo, Shell, etc? It also remains the responsibility of all of us to stand up and highlight the ills of society such that these can be corrected.
by Fiachra O Toole - Chemistry Mon Sep 10, 2012 09:19
Reading the Mail yesterday Ferguson has put the entire Goverment Cabinet on the backfoot, He claims Enda Kenny knew what Travers and Fottrell had arranged before he took the Package on his terms, Ferguson has now made a laughing clown of Kenny Bruton and Sherlock who Ferguson dispises the most.
by Academic Mon Sep 10, 2012 06:48
The dates are bizzare it seems now Ferguson got the post in early June organised by Travers and Fottrell, Yet other people had interviews in JULY and August. Something is rotten here.
by Seneca Sun Sep 09, 2012 14:10
More on Mark Ferguson in today's ( 9th September) Irish Mail on Sunday: "Science Chief thought Enda Kenny had cleared cap-busting pay."
by Watchful - Transparency Sun Sep 09, 2012 14:04
Mark Ferguson in today's Irish Mail on Sunday (9th Sept. 2012) blames yet again Enda Kenny for the debacle over his salary. As stated before he is the genius who blames everybody else when things go wrong. It will be interesting to find out who his next victim will be in the blame game. No doubt he will be well supported by some of his cronies on the Board of Directors. But then again they are all in it together it seems!
by Caitlin Sat Sep 08, 2012 15:27
Ireland, a country with little to declare, not even its genius, because that too is being wasted by those entrusted with its nurturing.. This country has lost just about everything in its obsession with commercialization. While acknowledging the place and importance of business and commerce in any State, nonetheless it is the business of Government to nurture, not strip, the assets of this country.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sat Sep 08, 2012 12:57
The Honorary degrees were given out yesterday. I was glad Denis Irwin, former Manchester footballer, received one.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Thu Sep 06, 2012 16:27
Are there any investigations being undertaken on corruption in Ireland currently? The posts would indicate that the next step is to reorganize the board of SFI thereby ensuring crony-ism is reduced. It has been suggested that the DG of SFI resign, who will replace him and would this result in a better service? Would this result in fairer decisions? The current reported requirements of the SFI from applicants has the appearance of being of low intensity and therefore could yield unfair results.
by Observer Thu Sep 06, 2012 16:07
Brian Flannery did well to highlight cronyism in the semi-state sector and he has deservedly received enormous support for it, judging from the response to it on this site.
by Concerned Citizen Wed Sep 05, 2012 13:30
Is SFI stripping the assets of the Irish State?
by Oil man - Natural Resources Wed Sep 05, 2012 13:20
This is the month when all the little men come with bowl in hand from the campuses and stand humbled before a failed businessman and the words come out. Please Mr. Ferguson can I have some money for a project for some of my Phd students. I find this both alarming and disgusting. I put a question today to Hugh Brady, Provost, UCD and Mr. Prendergast Trinity College, who Ferguson claims are both personal friends to stand up now and either back this failure up or stand him down.
by Concerned Wed Sep 05, 2012 12:30
The Board of SFI have done this country some dis-service and they know it. It could be said that they have purposefully and deliberately mislead the Irish Taxpayer and (albeit, carelessly) the Irish Government. They have milked the system, getting renumerated handsomely for a few hours work which they have done carelessly or not at all. The consequences of the appointment of this conman Ferguson rests squarely on their shoulders.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Wed Sep 05, 2012 12:17
Bruton is responsible for the appointment of the Board of SFI. It is within his power also to make changes to this board. What connections does Sherlock have with the DG of SFI? Does Sherlock have any connection with Renovo? What conections does Bruton have? The current round of funds being sought of SFI is underway, with a powerpoint type presentation required to make the task of deciding quicker and simpler, but perhaps less informed. Those being funded include research institutions, colleges, universities and private enterprise. Additional funding can be found through matched funding investment by industry. Is it required of an applicant college to cite the source of their matched funding? Who decides and to what extent of funding might require additional controls?
by Interested Tue Sep 04, 2012 17:16
Of today's SFI's Webinar:
by Uni. Tue Sep 04, 2012 10:27
Impact in SFI means pure cronyism. Funding and perks for the insider track boys and girls. Lots of researchers have left Ireland - driven out. Even a Nobel prize winner! Take the case of Richard Tol, Nobel prize winner for climate change who left back in January. Then there is UCD Nobel prize winner in Economics, James Heckman. He has prestigious European Research Council funding. What has SFI ever done for him though?
by Concerned Scientist Mon Sep 03, 2012 15:13
This is with reference to the posting on "SFI Director General in the News again - The Energy Conference held 31st Aug.2012"
by Pat Hughes - Immigrant Mon Sep 03, 2012 14:21
by Simplicity Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:30
What I have read on Indymedia and in yesterdays "Mail on Sunday" (2/9/2012) , The "Sunday Times" of two weeks ago and in other blogs reinforces my belief of the terrible injustices and corruption of our present Government. How dare they impose such stringent cuts on our poorest and most vulnerable in our society while at the same time surreptiously giving a huge salary and perks to an absolute power money hungry individual, Mark Ferguson, who is useing his position as DG of SFI to further his own agenda? This man has absolutely no interest in Science and Research in Ireland. His aim is simply to be in a position to milk this country for his own personal gain. Shame on the stupid and greedy people who put him there, no doubt there was something in it for them. Shame on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny (who never tires of telling us of the corruption and errors of the last Government!) who colluded with these public servants and mandarins to give him these huge perks at the expense of the Irish taxpayer.
by Science Enthusiast Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:58
The arrogance of Ferguson and the SFI clique around him is unbelievably detrimental to Irish Research and Irish Enterprise. First, he is imposed willy nilly by the Taoiseach and given an inflated salary and perks. Secondly, this arrogant ignoramous is put in charge of Irish Science, Mathematics, and Engineering. Thirdly, this is done in order to milk the assets of Irish Research - so Ferguson who is involved in a major financial and business scam with Renovo is put in charge.
by anon Mon Sep 03, 2012 09:52
Here's the link to the Mail on Sunday article referred to above Didn't realize he is earning €190,000-a-year
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Sun Sep 02, 2012 19:49
Opportunism is the conscious taking of advantage of a situation or circumstances for personal gain. Something that we are all possibly guilty of to some degree. When faced with an opportunity we weigh the advantages and disadvantages and act accordingly. Many will include non-personal criteria in this weighted decision. With third party concerns absent from this decision, it is totally selfish opportunism. Personal gain if shared can be of benefit to many. Mark Ferguson was faced with a decision to accept an offer as DG of SFI last year. As implied by the attached article, the opportunity arose due to links with influential politicians. What links does Mark Ferguson have with Sean Sherlock? What influence does Sean Sherlock have with Enda Kenny? This also poses the question as to what control Enda Kenny has over his own actions. Is one who blindly accepts vested advice a leader or a fool? An opportunist who is not checked becomes naturally a “megalomaniac” who can in his own mind be “running a country”. The encouragement given is the fault of adversely poor leadership.
by Citizen 11 Sun Sep 02, 2012 17:01
Reply to Citizen.
by Citizen Sun Sep 02, 2012 16:07
It was with absolute shock and outrage that I read the article on Mark Ferguson in today's "Mail on Sunday". How absolute STUPID can our leaders be. It could be argued that An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, has by his covert actions, has attempted to reward handsomely what could be termed a fraudster and conman, and in so doing, has brought shame on this country. How dare he critise Governments who have gone before him. He is even worse, with his Saint Enda like protestations to right the wrongs that have been inflicted on this nation.
by Insider Science - Cronyism semi-state Sun Sep 02, 2012 14:43
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Sun Sep 02, 2012 14:31
It would appear to have been established that SFIs DG holds shares in Renovo. The Crazy Crocodile post notes a stake-holding in off shore oil drilling, by the SFI. Who has vested interest in any company interested in this drilling? Transparency is now needed in order to establish the true beneficiaries of our tax investment. These should of course be the tax payers and people of Ireland. Licences are being sold wholesale to various interests for oil research and exploration off the coast of Ireland. The resources noted have been likened to the North Sea and anyone with a vested interest in these licensed companies would stand to make vast profits, either through the early sale of increasing share values or with the discovery of vast areas of oil reserves.
by iNTERESTED Sat Sep 01, 2012 20:51
Can't pretend to know a lot about share buying and share buy back and Director's share options but I do understand enough to know that it looks like Mark Ferguson is on to another Manchester like scam.
by Crazy Crocodile - Observer Sat Sep 01, 2012 13:38
The Renovo shares are being bought back by an inner circle of present shareholders ie Ferguson, wife O'Kane and others at an option rate of 7-10p while shares in the open market are hovering at around .17p. They are held in 'Treasury' whatever this means? This is becoming a blatant attempt to cash in again for the kill when the timing is right!
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Fri Aug 31, 2012 19:43
Citizens of any country dream of equitable approaches to challenges. Many see this as a right and are more likely to be critical of their own country more than others. Illness at home is always harder to bear. The increasingly rampant incidents of crony-ism and self interest of the SFI kind results in the ills noted in these many posts. These are the symptoms of an absence of any clear focus by our leaders. In fact the SFI débâcle has at its core a now removed corrupt government and a now absent government. The absence of leadership in Ireland may yet confirm SFIs DG claims of “running a country”. This may prove more potent a claim with the resignation of Professor Patrick Cunningham as chief scientific advisor to the apparent absent. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0831/1....html .
by Exasperated Fri Aug 31, 2012 15:01
All the concerns with respect to Mark Ferguson have been raised many times on this site but sometimes it takes constant repetition for a message to be driven home. Maybe if it is repeated often enough those responsible for creating this mess might be finally persuaded to do something about it before we have a complete brain drain out of this country. The idiot who maintains "the Irish Taxpayer deserves no less" is dead right. It is the no more of his sort that we deserve. Have we not already learned that it was the country's obsession with the commercialisation with just about everything that has brought us to our knees and these idiots at SFI are advocating more of it.
by British Taxpayer Fri Aug 31, 2012 10:00
To Opus:
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Fri Aug 31, 2012 09:32
'..anywhere else.'??
by British Taxpayer Thu Aug 30, 2012 21:07
Mark Ferguson swindled the British taxpayer out of millions, swindled his investors out of millions, skipped off to Ireland with a cool 18million, held on to his considerable interest in Renovc and landed a plumb job in a State Agency in Ireland. It couldn't happen anywhere else!!!
by Apologist Thu Aug 30, 2012 13:28
When the Board of SFI had an opportunity to introduce constructive reform at SFI, by the appointment of one of many eminently home grown Irish scientists/academics last January, they failed, and failed spectacularly. They did so because it is conceivable that some members of the selection panel and the Board of SFI doggedly pursued their own vested interests at the expense of SFI and the whole community of Irish taxpayers. It is to the eternal shame of the SFI Board that not one voice was raised against this.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:44
There is an article in today's Times Higher Education titled 'Research Intelligence - Cold shoulder for Ireland's pure science?
by Deep Insider - Semi-State Wed Aug 29, 2012 13:48
It is now becoming more apparent by the day that Ferguson's days are numbered in SFI. The conflict of interest is no longer debateable, it is actually a fact. This is now way above the Board's head and Sherlock is simply clueless to the fact that the Irish taxpayers have been fooled yet again by this chancer - Ferguson. Also include: his wife, Sharon O'Kane.
by Pamela Quirk Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:26
I've been reading the posts on this for a while now and am surprised that no-one has written to answer any points, or to support the SFI in their actions. Gale and more has asked for answers, these can only be given by the sfi or those in the sfi. An invite has been given and should be answered. Why is no one answering.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Tue Aug 28, 2012 21:40
Frustration turns to anger as the questions remain unanswered and the piling of apparent ridicule continues. Last Saturday's Newstalk had an interesting feature on science in which the DG of SFI spoke perhaps openly. The man who “runs a country” on Saturday feigns helplessness in the face of government policy controlling SFI finance. Is the feigning false and does he really have more control as previously claimed? There appears to be blame levied on government policy for failings on promises made.
by Young Researcher Mon Aug 27, 2012 20:01
What is impact of mathematics - "Articulate it ! " he said.
by Observer Mon Aug 27, 2012 19:50
Reply to W Finner
by W. Finnerty Sun Aug 26, 2012 18:19
I can't help wondering if any of the descriptions below fit one or more of the "complained of people" in this article?
by Listener Sun Aug 26, 2012 11:18
Times of Recession make room for complete Madness and we had a prime example of it on Newstalk on Saturday evening at 18.00. SFI are completely out of touch with the Irish mindset. I can think of many more relevant topics to be discussed rather than what was put out by SFI for young listeners.
by Young Researcher Sun Aug 26, 2012 11:10
In regard to basic science and mathematics, and the need for immediate commercial impact, Mark Ferguson's message was well articulated.
by Pat Mc Cabe - Ex Semi State Sun Aug 26, 2012 11:09
Last evening Mark Ferguson spoke for 10 mins on Newstalk and never a mention of any career failures, What really is going on in SFI AND WHO is doing the cover ups. Graham Love is tweeting like a duck on heroin yet Love wants Ferguson out The SFI Board of Directors have not answered one single question yet staff at SFI are threarened by Freeman and Donal Keane to keep their mouths shut. The strange thing is Keane, Love, and Freeman want Ferguson to step down
by Post Grad Maths - Student Sat Aug 25, 2012 13:19
by Young Researcher Fri Aug 24, 2012 21:09
It is interesting that Mr. Ferguson of SFI will be on Newstalk radio, 18.00 - 19.00, tomorrow, Saturday. He will be telling about how SFI now excludes basic science, engineering and mathematics from its funding.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Fri Aug 24, 2012 18:07
With all the risk of repetition it is my belief that we need answers to the questions tabled in these posts. All the reports would indicate that Renovo has failed in the real world, however the share value has increased over the past year, http://www.lse.co.uk/shareprice.asp?shareprice=rnv. While we have indications of the extent of funding available through SFI, it is the taxpayers right to also have access to the means and protocol governing the awarding of these funds. For instance, do SFI have the power to allocate amounts directly without government controls? If so what is the amount that can be awarded without scrutiny? Who decides the recipients and what controls are in place to prevent errors? The future of Ireland's scientific reputation depends to a high degree on the SFI.
by Curious Thu Aug 23, 2012 22:00
Where is the Board of SFI with all of these revealations?
by Liam Delaney - Teacher Thu Aug 23, 2012 22:00
Mark Ferguson is damaged goods and the legacy of Failure in Manchester will not go away,
by Bug Wed Aug 22, 2012 20:21
A propos posting by T Brett
by Liam Delaney - Observer Galway Wed Aug 22, 2012 14:02
A letter in the Irish Times today signed by many of the so called academic elites of College Research referred to the funding or the lack in relation to their own self-gain and motive. Only for this site and Brian Flannery who began this very serious argument which has opened up a can of worms across the entire research spectrum. These people today would not have come out. The only reason that this bunch of clowns have written today is that Indymedia and the people at grassroots shamed them out of their elite castles in the sky and their overpaid salaries which are as always financed by the Irish taxpayers.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Tue Aug 21, 2012 16:53
Stories abound about corruption and ineptitude throughout Ireland recently. The complexity of this particular thread is a symptom of a society in decline. What link to the SFI has Kestrel Investment Partners? There appears an ever divisible trail of interest surrounding SFI's DG. Being uninitiated to the world of high level investment I wonder why investors would purchase shares immediately after a company like Renovo has voted to buy back shares. It's obvious, the apparent increase in value due to the demand generated by this vote in a company that is reported in this post as failing. Who makes money? Why would anyone writing about corruption and ineptitude in Ireland be concerned about foreign investors investing in foreign shares? The mere mention of Mark Ferguson in certain circles raises eyebrows and concerns, it would appear both in Britain and Ireland.
by Confused Tue Aug 21, 2012 10:33
From the comments posted on the this site I an truly confused about what is going on at SFI. Has someone played a sick joke on this beleagured country by appointing a man like him? What are the relevant authorities doing about this terrible situation? The ugly comments that he has made about Professor Cunningham are dreadful expressions of contempt. This must not be tolerated.
by Patrick Tue Aug 21, 2012 10:26
Mr. Brett
by Paddy Brett - Teacher Tue Aug 21, 2012 10:18
Professor Patrick Cunningham is the Chief Goverment Scientific Advisor and he based at Wilton Place
by Patrick Mon Aug 20, 2012 21:39
Ferguson must be very busy trying to pump share prices at Renovo. He is virtually locked in his hole at SFI with his coterie of hand picked aides trying to find a way out of the hole they have dug for themselves. With all the business of running the country, pumping up the share prices at Renovo, looking after career prospects for themselves and looking after the vested interests of the cronies who helped him there, they are far too busy to bother about public perception of SFI or what it is meant to be doing. They just leave that to the million dollar PR company that continues to pour out spin, lies and questionable statistics to keep the unsuspecting public fooled. In the meantime Ferguson and his team concentrates on how to pull off his second big scam.
by Concerned Sun Aug 19, 2012 16:23
Mark Ferguson's and Sharon O'Kane's ownership of a large number of shares in Renovo is a cause of major concern.
by Manchester Researcher - media Sun Aug 19, 2012 15:56
Ferguson and wife own 21 million shares in Renovo! There are at least 3 more in SFI who own shares in Renovo. Ruth Freeman has Asian contacts i.e markets. Major conflict of interest scenario. Gannon promoted lick arse Freeman and Donal Keane wants her out.
by Academic concerned - Retired Sat Aug 18, 2012 08:17
The meeting in America last June has being confirmed between Ferguson and other shareholders of Renovo. This is deeply worrying for the Irish Taxpayers and more importent where is Sean Sherlock now. Who would give Ferguson a failed idiot 270 million of taxpayers money in a fucking Recession, Keep watching the shares in Renovo very well planned some sources hidden is buying////
by bad researcher Fri Aug 17, 2012 20:38
What I have heard is that quite a number of high-profile researchers in the Irish academia are very angry about how the new SFI programmes and criteria have been defined. According to these, it appears almost impossible for sound research in, say, non-applicable sciences to enjoy any funding under this directorship.
by Stung Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:28
Has anybody been watching the activity of Renovo shares lately.? This guy is on to a big scam again. Seems he is getting a lot of help from you lot there!
by Citizen Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:04
We have had the failed Bankers, Developers and Politicians who have plundered this country and brought it to its knees. Not content with that we now have to endure the humiliation of some idiots , acting on our behalf, who looked across the Irish pond to see if they could find another plunderer to further add to our woes. You could not make it up!!
by Observer Thu Aug 16, 2012 13:56
This man Ferguson is fattening his Golden Goose so that Renovo can plunder it again. There is nothing to Renovo, never was, there is no great research, never was. This time however he is doing it on the back of the Irish taxpayer and on the position of Trust they foolishly placed in him.
by Mediocre Researcher Thu Aug 16, 2012 13:30
You must have some information. The months October and March are quite relevant. Are you part of the boycott and how can we help?
by Manchester Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:47
Hi guys, been recommended to your site. Have known this guy Ferguson for years. Could hardly believe it is the same guy. Also hard to believe that anyone would employ a conman like him. Wow how the mighty have fallen! Conned this country for years with his so called research! The only worthwhile research this man ever did was on how to get rich while fleecing others. Gets lots of help with this from his investments company too.
by Patrick Tue Aug 14, 2012 19:36
I have heard of sweating the assets but there is a very big difference between sweating the assets and stripping the assets. Now that Ireland has been stripped of its most valuable asset, the thousands of young people who have left this Island, lets hope that Ferguson knows the difference between the two By the looks of things he doesn't but we might get luck. However I wont be holding my breadth!!!!
by bad researcher Mon Aug 13, 2012 23:01
I have recently heard of a plan to boycott SFI programmes between October 2012 and March 2013 in order to substantiate Irish academia's reservations against SFI director Mark Ferguson. Has anybody got more information about this? Are there any details available as to which disciplines will be involved? Will it only affect new grant applications? Or will also existing grants be covered?
by Concerned Citizen Mon Aug 13, 2012 15:55
Ferguson Chief of SFI/RENOVO and now self acclaimed Leader of the Country squandered millions of British Taxpayers money, robbed most of Renovo's Investors of their livelihood, made a few hundred unemployed and with his missus Sharon O' Kane hopped over here with a cool 18million. That's what some here call success!!
by Belfast - Teacher Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:40
I went to school with Ferguson and then to Queens he will not be dictated to by anyone believe me. I have been reading this site for weeks now and I FULLY BACK MOST COMMENTS,but your problem is Ferguson will never back down it did not happen in Manchester and it wont happen here he has the full backing of Sherlock. Ferguson will try and tear this site to shreds and going to the High Court to silence his critics and believe me this man means business. Ferguson left Manchester in tatters for other people but he and the wife pocketed 18 million plus
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Sat Aug 11, 2012 23:02
“We learn resignation not by our own suffering, but by the suffering of others”. William Somerset Maugham.
by Shareholder Watch - Renovo losers Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:39
Last June Ferguson spent 3 weeks in America meeting up with potential investors to raise capital to relaunch Renovo Why, The other people who were there were Sharon O Kane and Ruth Freeman of SFI WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON. Ruth Freeman travelled on Irish Taxpayers money and now the question has to be asked is Freeman a shareholder in SFI if not Why was she in the company of Ferguson and wife in Boston, This is getting very disturbing and Free travel on taxpayers money in a Conflict of interest is bordering on a very thin line og professional misconduct by Freeman and her boss SFI and Renovo Boss Ferguson.
by Amused Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:31
Now that we have Mark Ferguson and his Cabinet running the Country what need have we of Taoiseasch and his Cabinet ? Think of how much money that would save? Indeed we can dispense with the whole Dail. Now wouldn't that go a long way in cutting public expenses?
by Immigrant Fri Aug 10, 2012 13:55
World acclaimed scientist, Craig Venter, was deeply insulted by Professor Mark Ferguson during the ESOF seminars which were hosted in Dublin last month.
by Seriously Concerned Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:40
Well said Gale. This is indeed a serious matter requiring urgent response from the Government. How have we got into such a mess?
by Taxpayer Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:34
Ferguson the SFI Chief and psychopath now runs the Country or so he says.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:33
Anyone claiming to run a country should also practice a level of diligence that has not been demonstrated with the recent SFI introduction of Dr. Craig Venter http://www.livestream.com/esof2012/video?clipId=pla_f1d...f4917 by Mark Ferguson. It appears from Dr. Venters response that he was indeed offended with that implicit in the introduction. One wonders what further implications of this were presented, if any behind the scenes at the conference and indeed even politically. It proves very difficult to find any quotes from leaders making similar claims to running countries. True leaders lead and in so doing realise that the running of any large organisation is a collective effort. No one person has ever run a country. The efforts required of leaders would also require a great level of care demonstrated to be lacking by comments made in the posts.
by Observer Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:41
Barry McSweeney was forced to stand down as Irish Government Chief Science Advisor in October 2005, having taken up the position in September 2004. This was due to the fraud of his PhD.
by Amused Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:34
Thanks Opus - you summed it in one phase "our disfunctional culture". Too true, all other points are sound also.
by Haunted Tue Aug 07, 2012 16:17
Denis O'Brien who pays no taxes in Ireland and still has a big influence in various vested interests in this country. Why? Because he is allowed to do it and the reason is simple, Kenny stood beside O'Brien at Wall Street when the Stock Exchange bells donged. This in itself was giving O'Brien total permission by this Government to fly over and buy into what he wants with his massive amount of millions made from a shadowy past.
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Tue Aug 07, 2012 15:59
Because the mythologisers of the corporate financial indoctrination that perpetuates the disinformation bizzards are paid off all down the line...from their editorial and university faculty chairs to the career guiding teachers focusing on egoistic selfhood; rewarded to manage the culture of competition uber alles, and the program has been learned well from the jesuitical parsers and analysts of nuance of just how to confuse and obfuscate their collective audiences from childhood into a streamed inability to 'rock the boat' or upset the authoritarian applecarts that already have them over economic barrels if they wish to retain any grip on survival in the their own countrieS of birth. Our way or the oceanic highway.
by Amused Tue Aug 07, 2012 14:55
Why is it that the culture in Ireland is to laud the failed businessman as if is he /she who holds the secret of success.
by Observer Tue Aug 07, 2012 14:50
Ferguson D-G, SFI must be given great credit for the way he has portrayed and packaged himself. Given his boastful and narcisstic behaviour "Now I am running a country. That might make me sound like a megalomanic, but it is a logical progression" it would not be beyond doubt that small nougats of truth about this man's achievements have been blown out of reasonable preportions.
by Harp - Transparency Mon Aug 06, 2012 16:31
I applaud William Finnerty for his constancy in exposing corruption in Ireland and particularly in his brilliant exposition of the goings on at Renovo.
by W. Finnerty Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:51
"Mark (Ferguson) has a deep interest in translating scientific research findings into successful commercial entities. He founded and funded (including a £13.5M state of the art building) the Manchester Biosciences Incubator, which has successfully mentored and housed a number of start up companies. Based on inventions and patents from his University research, Mark co –founded (with Dr Sharon O’Kane) Renovo, a biotechnology company developing novel pharmaceutical therapies to prevent scarring and accelerate wound healing. As CEO, since foundation, Mark built and led Renovo from 2 people to a peak staff of approx 200, and from being a small private start up to a listed public company. He was personally involved at every step of this evolution: hiring key staff and Directors, raising £32M of private International Venture Capital, pursuing commercial research and development including clinical trials of potential products , interacting with International Regulatory Authorities, licensing ( including negotiating a US $830M plus royalties deal for the lead drug ), liaising with major banks , analysts and investment funds including an IPO on the London Stock Exchange raising £67.5M, and restructuring Renovo in response to advanced clinical trial data and commercial opportunities."
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:49
..Monday morning shit...
by Interested Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:25
Ferguson D- G of Sfi, failed businessman, who robbed the British Taxpayer and who with his wife Sharon O' Kane ran off with 18million now tells us he is running our country.
by Researcher - Facts Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:17
Reading the Sunday Times yesrerday the threat seems to be stil Active that Ferguson will silence this site,
by Retired Lecturer Sun Aug 05, 2012 09:59
Todays Sundats times Ferguson claims he is not just running SFI but he also is running a country, Who gave this loony the mandate to run the country,
by Citizen Sat Aug 04, 2012 21:37
Mark Ferguson, D-G of SFI stated in the recent Irish Independent article that he is going to have SFI make a profit. Look at
by Concerned Sat Aug 04, 2012 17:31
Pigeon Courier
by Pigeon courier - Uphold Rule of Law Fri Aug 03, 2012 15:10
Former Provost of Trinity College, John Hegarty, and Bill Harris, ex Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) boss, are gone into consultancy business together via Moscow, which of course is where Conor Lenihan is now based. They are involved in Energy deals in an advisory capacity. These people take the secrets of research with them and one can only assume they use them to their advantage. Double dipping has become the order of the day. It is not one pension, but two, even three or more. Tax breaks ensured this.
by Eleanor Tripp Fri Aug 03, 2012 15:02
Science Foundation Ireland was set up in the Ahern era by the old Haughey-ites. What a mix? It could be said that SFI was governed then largely by self - serving and greedy cronies and unfortunately it appears that it still is. The same old cronies, the same old fingers in the pie!
by Dandelion Thu Aug 02, 2012 14:49
Science Foundation Ireland has lost the trust and confidence of a large proportion of the academic community and of the Public in general. Has the Board of SFI done a single thing to mitigate this absolute and complete loss of trust and confidence? Has it even attempted a damage limitation exercise? Has it such contempt for both communities?
by Charlie Chaplin - Accountant retired Thu Aug 02, 2012 14:17
Last night I looked up John Travers inter alia directorships and of SFI. This man is unique because I thought Mary Davis, the Quango Queen, held the record but Travers definitely holds the title. Travers is highlighted throughout many semi-state boards and when you link in his connections which are bordering on a serious monopoly of power. He also borders on or sorry I should say he breaks every code that semi-state pretend to adhere to in relation to who gets on or should I say gets the nod for government advisory contracts. He had a serious connection with Mary Harney and her husband Geoghegan in the 80's, 90's and up to Harney's departure in 2011. Ferguson had the door opened for him by Travers and other cronies way before any interview was given for the post of SFI Director General. It is now well known within inner circles of SFI that Una Clifford is seeking legal advice if she becomes the main whistleblower and starts to tell the Irish taxpayer the full facts of the extent of what we can only call corruption.
by The Rugby Blower Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:56
SFI was established for the betterment of the Science and Maths students of this country what happened since 2001. Greed and a elite group took over with no legal authurity from the Irish taxpayers. Now we have Renovo Ferguson and the lick arses Keane being the most devious and a past from the hospital in Drogheda that is going public shortly. Donal Keanes friend was brought before the criminal courts yesterday and he must be worried of the Group in Drogheda who remember him with deep disgust in the 1990s,
by Observer Tue Jul 31, 2012 16:06
Reply to Reseacher:
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Tue Jul 31, 2012 13:41
Questions and answers!
by Researcher Tue Jul 31, 2012 12:35
Recent lecture of Craig Venter on the genetic code at the Euroscience Open Forum 2012
by The Jackal Mon Jul 30, 2012 21:52
Interesting above! Looking over sites over the week-end. Ferguson's name crops up on various blogs in relation to the millions he plundered from Renovo while 240 people were left on english welfare. It is hard to believe that this ape is allowed run an Irish Science Agency. The most serious question unanswered by Minister Sherlock is the exact salary that Ferguson draws down. It is now according ti inside sources i.e. Keane and Clifford approx. £300 annually. Where is the cap on his salary? Cronyism at large!!
by Investor Mon Jul 30, 2012 21:43
There are some interesting comments on the track record of Mark Ferguson on the Interactive Investor site
by Bird's eye Mon Jul 30, 2012 14:43
Land of saints and scholars, - more like land of thieves and conmen! It could be argued that conmen and idiots are running the show at SFI. Are our public servants all too eager to please the boss even to the detriment of science and Ireland's scientific reputation? What sort of people are the management team at SFI who continue to support this charade of an organisation?
by W. Finnerty Sun Jul 29, 2012 15:21
Reply to Jersey Island Reporter-Media at Sun Jul 29, 2012 14:06 ...
by Jersey Island Reporter - Media Sun Jul 29, 2012 14:06
The news coming from the people who lost their jobs in Renovo, Manchester is quite serious.
by Public Servant Sun Jul 29, 2012 13:20
From a reliable source I have it that Mark Ferguson discussed recently with Max Royde and Jamie Brooke of Renovo to get one or other, or both, onto the SFI Board.
by The Bull McCabe Sat Jul 28, 2012 12:13
The very first comment on this site is the word "cronyism". Enda Kenny has said he will break Quangos and cronyism! Could Eoin O'Driscoll and the Board of SFI clarify one question? Is Emer O'Driscoll, newly appointed PA to Mark Ferguson, the daughter or family member to Eoin? Did she get the post of PA under Mark Ferguson with open, legal and ethical standards? Was the position advertised publicly?
by Renovo Observer - Enquires Fri Jul 27, 2012 14:11
It is time now for the Board of Directors to come out now and make a full statement in relation to Renovo and Ferguson.
by Enquiring - Irish citizens Thu Jul 26, 2012 14:05
Opus
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Thu Jul 26, 2012 13:15
..in today's Phoenix.
by Mark Tighe Thu Jul 26, 2012 11:56
Hi,
by Overseas Wed Jul 25, 2012 18:05
I have been reading the various comments on SFI from the internet,The Irish Times, Irish Independent Phoenix, Belfast Telegraph etc. etc and it makes an astonishing read. Do the powers that be in Ireland not see what a terrible fiasco this is , right down from the Director General to the management team which by all accounts seem to have been hand - picked by him?
by Dr Impact Wed Jul 25, 2012 14:14
Mark Ferguson and Sharon O'Kane still own a considerable part of the company they made and broke, Renovo. Now they are not directors, but they do own. After its collapse in terms of scar healing and everything else, it is now a different game: "Renovo eyes market with £30m war chest" as reported in lots of news media in May. There is lots of hanky panky going on now. Just look at all the "Transaction in own shares" notices that Renovo is logging. And Mark Ferguson can be found travelling to the US and elsewhere, sometimes with more SFI personnel in tow. He's there to tout the wares of Renovo, enjoying this profile that "working for the Irish govrenment" gives him, as the press releases put it. This is at SFI's expense and the Irish State's expense.
by Economist - Watching share holdings Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:43
Reading the FT on the 14 july last I came across a topic written by Jonathan Moules how failing Companies reinvent themselves on the Stock market . They look for private funding and people to invest if the opportunity is there to make money, Ferguson is blatantly using his position to attract investors back to Renovo in a very well constructed way. The trips to America paid for by the Irish Taxpayers is to create alternative funding for Renovo which ferguson and the wife Sharon o Kane still hold 15.per in stake holdings, This is illegal and one can say or ask the question internal trading at worst scenario,
by Inside Knowledge - Semi - State Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:03
After reading Dick Alstrom's article yesterday in the Irish Times it is clear now that SFI has lost all credibility in the area of science and research in Ireland. Renovo is the monkey on Ferguson's back now and this monkey will not be bribed by a banana. Dick Alstrom is a highly respected in the world of science as a very level- headed journalist. His message yesterday was crystal clear SFI has completely lost its way and is embedded with cronyism and jobs for the boys and girls.
by Is mise le meas Mon Jul 23, 2012 16:33
by Phoenix Rising - Justice v Cronyism Mon Jul 23, 2012 13:34
Today Irish Independent - article by Edel O'Connell, Ferguson insists he is here at SFI to make profit! In his arrogant tone, he declared words to effect he could make a lot more in the private sector but I wanted this job for one reason only to change science in Ireland and the research programmes attached to it. Ferguson also stated his wife Sharon O'Kane and himself have no problem whatsoever relating to drawing down Stg£12.7 m + other payments which include Stg£2 m to Sharon O'Kane and when you add in the bonuses - the total gets close to Stg£18 m (from a company that produced nothing other than trial failures). He also went on to say that he had sympathy for the 240 people who lost their jobs at Renovo in Manchester. His own words state 'Life goes on'.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Sat Jul 21, 2012 19:49
Symptomatic.
by Taxpayer - The Greater Good Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:27
Mark Ferguson the Director General - Why I believe it was a bad decision.
by Legal Eagle - JUSTICE AGAINST CORRUPTION Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:23
Changes have been made to THE PROFILE of failed ex Renovo Chief Fegusons CV in the last 3 weeks. Una Clifford and Donkey Keane are desperate to cover their own pathetic backs in relation to Fergus. Sources from within SFI have said that Clifford tapes all meetings now with staff and especially with Donkey Keane who she totally mistrusts after hearing on the Phoenix that Keanes brother Mark was shafted by Fottrell for the DG post last December. Gossip and secret meetings are now part of a normal day at Wilton Place.
by Interested - Policy Institute Thu Jul 19, 2012 15:52
The following is an excerpt from SFI's policy on Conflict of Interest.....
by New Yorker - Imigrated by SFI Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:27
I want to thank Mr Finnerty for bringing to the fore more information of the Renovo scandal and the legacy of Ferguson and O Kane in Manchester,
by Outraged Taxpayer Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:19
Look at Renovo , the article above written by Mr. Finnerty. Consider the funds of £160 million that SFI, under the directorship of Mark Ferguson, is entrusted with. Are we seriously being asked by our Government to trust this man with our hard earned taxes?
by W. Finnerty Tue Jul 17, 2012 15:53
"Renovo attempted to commercialise the scientific research that Ferguson had carried out at the University of Manchester. It grew rapidly from a small private company in 2000 to a publicly traded company with over 200 staff, claiming possession of 'the most advanced regenerative medicine in the world'. It received large sums of money, including £63 million of investors’ money, £58 million of investment from the pharmaceutical company Shire, along with £16.5 million of British tax-payers money in the form of grants and research tax credits."
by Michael Neutral - Curiousity Tue Jul 17, 2012 15:18
The race is on. In one stable we have numerous home grown scientists from UCD, Trinity, DCU, NUIG, Limerick and the rest. Of course, let us not forget UCC. But the question is: Do they have the balls to fight the front runner - hand picked by Travers?
by W. Finnerty Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:07
"The former chief executive of France Telecom (semi-state I suspect?) has been placed under formal judicial investigation over workplace bullying after a spate of suicides at the phone company and its subsidiary Orange, in what could become a landmark criminal trial."
by Pat Mc Cabe - Retired semi state Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:10
I am disgusted as a retired Teacher how one man can do so much damage to the future of Science and Maths in this country, Some months ago CBE Ferguson gave a small speech to a group of Researchers at Trinity, My niece informed me later to my disgust his behavour was appalling and bad language throughout the talk. Why did people take the rants and not say enough/ have some respect. It is now time for the Board of SFI to come out and make a full statement in relation how Ferguson got this post as DG in January we all know good people got shafted. I note Sherlocks reply to Clare Daly in the Dail was vague and drops the scandal in SFI at the door of the board of Directors. Would Fottrell come out now as ADirector and make a full statement or is he afraid of Ferguson,
by Post Doc. Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:00
Excellent Research is based on sustainability and consistent effort. See CERN and NASA examples. SUSTAINABILITY not short term goals required. Tell this man Ferguson to get real.
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Mon Jul 16, 2012 17:36
sooo...more massive and elusive than the God particle itself...
by Phoenix Rising - Justice Mon Jul 16, 2012 14:28
Some days ago in Dail Eireann Clare Daly asked Minister John Sherlock several questions in relation to Mark Ferguson, head of SFI. Deputy Daly was ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle but the only question Minister Sherlock answered was in relation to Ferguson's salary. He responded that Ferguson received £189,315 pa plus pension scheme provision. Taxpayers need to know how much more is on offer.
by Outraged Taxpayer Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:48
How dare this man Ferguson and his lackey dare attempt to use the taxpayer's money to defend his already tarnished reputation? This tarnishing was not done by the Irish people but was done by others before he took over the directorship of SFI His appointment could be viewed as an unmitigated disaster for Irish Science and its reputation at home and abroad.
by Economist - Universities Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:46
Reading the Business section of the Sunday Times yesterday I was not shocked by Mr. Ferguson's outline and arrogance in relation to how he is running SFI right now. Ferguson went on to state without any hesitation that he closed down many divisions of research, that he has made redundant numerous people and he also made reference to any contracts going forward will only last 5 years. Ferguson's problem is the legacy left behind with Renovo. I am not a scientist but I am a deep economist and by this I mean Ferguson and Renovo and the figures don't add up. Professor Ferguson came over here as if it would be an easy ride before Professor O'Neill stands down as Government Chief Science adviser and this is Ferguson's main goal. He wants to run SFI as his and his alone beyond the questions of anybody but he also wants the cream on top i.e. Luke O'Neill's job. Sorry Ferguson. You have numerous questions to answer.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:13
I received a call this morning to read the Sfi artickle in the Sunday Times business section. Report by Mark Paul Mark Ferguson and Una Clifford have got a High Court order against UPC TO GIVE sfi access to who is writing about them, This to me is bully boy tactics and shows how Ferguson operates.
by Observer Sun Jul 15, 2012 09:24
SFI’s main aim is to commercialise research. But from its latest Annual Report, as Finfacts reported on 12 July: “Science Foundation Ireland reports dismal results”.
by Eleanor Tripp Sat Jul 14, 2012 14:17
It is absolutely preposterous that these scandals surrounding SFI have not yet been independently investigated. Goodness me what does this take?
by Ex-researcher Fri Jul 13, 2012 23:55
I'm out of research for over 4 years now and in the private sector.
by Deep Insider - One foot in the grave Fri Jul 13, 2012 13:23
It all happened last night. Sadly I was there and for a while I wondered what really was I doing at the event. I had my special pass. Other people had to pay the £100+ fee to hear the Professors speak on DNA - the overall blaa blaa of the night was on the scientist who gave the same speech at the same venue in 1943. I won't bore you with the details.
by Knowledge Worker Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:42
@Tommy: If "getting the job" done means squandering taxpayers money, bilking investors and making off with lots of cash, I suppose you're right:
by Weary - Justice Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:41
God Almighty - the Debacle of SFI is now beyond beyond belief - Alleged Conflict of Interest, naked self-interest, cronyism, nepotism, alteration of legal documents, bullying, mis-use of taxpayers money and mis-representation and all of this from an organisation that was only established in 2001.
by Brian Flannery - Justice Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:16
Opus
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Thu Jul 12, 2012 11:22
..your patronymic aint Cooper by any chance?
by Tommy Wed Jul 11, 2012 21:05
All drama queens! Country needs to be run like any company! You have to do whatever you have to in order to get job done simple
by Researcher Wed Jul 11, 2012 15:37
I was reading with great interest the entry "Worked at SFI for approx 4 years". Could you clarify a few points for me please?
by Crocodile Tears - Research Wed Jul 11, 2012 12:25
I take great hope in relation to the last number of postings. I refer Pertinent Flesh and Opus. It has given me a much deeper insight which I did not have at my disposal. I want to state that in the last number of months, certain people in SFI have assumed new roles of authority without actually having the authority to do so. I will explain this: Una Clifford is Human Resources in SFI. As we speak Una Clifford is moving around the corridors instructing people telling them how to behave in relation to the new format that Ferguson has obviously outlined within the inner circle. Ms Clifford portrays herself as one of Ireland's leading expert - the problem is that nobody has heard of her in the Law Library but I will get her an invitation to attend the Library in due course after the 4 days of Chit Chat of Science Ireland (today the onset ESOF2012). I also believe Una Clifford as Pertinent described is writing up new contracts on behalf of Ferguson and shredding others on behalf of herself. Leaving Renovo aside for a second and only a second Ms Clifford is creating another serious Conflict of Interest.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:13
Best for the job.
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Tue Jul 10, 2012 18:51
..at the board that dish the mass P45s
by Surplus Worker Tue Jul 10, 2012 16:43
The President of America can be booted out in the next year.
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Tue Jul 10, 2012 16:00
..reads like a senior civil servants 'yes minister' reply, filtered through the Communications Clinic's buzzword generator. Riddled with oxymoronic contradictions.
by Weary - Justice Tue Jul 10, 2012 14:46
Never before has a government needed to come out and plead a defense of SFI. Never before has one been done so in SFI speak. Now thereby hangs a tale!
by Pertinent Flesh Tue Jul 10, 2012 14:33
The stated level of cronyism may be broader than what is being said here and needs to be dealt with independently if Ireland is to be taken seriously in a global stage
by John Hegarty - Retired Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:47
This Ferguson debacle is not going away - not by a long shot. Today's Irish Times is sufficient proof for anybody with a sense of intrigue to see Sean Sherlock writing his letter in defence of SFI and a strange thing there was not a mention of the find of the century Ferguson, Mark. We still are awaiting for the SFI board of directors to come out and make a statement in total clarity that Mark Ferguson and his wife Sharon O'Kane have no connections in relation to shares, in relation to any format involving Renovo in Manchester.
by Eleanor Tripp Mon Jul 09, 2012 20:33
Welcome to the new Ireland where failure is the new success and where failure is glorified!! What a world we live in. The real successful people are unappreciated, the big mouths are hailed as the people who get things done. Well we will see.
by German Visitor - Science Munich Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:07
I am in Ireland with my daughter for the Science seminars this week.
by Bugged - Conscience Sat Jul 07, 2012 18:56
Yes, It's true. Ferguson and Freeman on world travel at taxpayers expense.
by Reginald Molloy - Former civil servant Sat Jul 07, 2012 13:09
Doing some research since Indymedia and the Phoenix exposed this extraordinary scandal of taxpayers money. I have the names of the board of directors of SFI. Here we have a staff of 42 people. Can someone explain to me the number mentioned now of directors: Mr Travers, Mr Fottrell, both in their late 70's and old cronies of FF and Haughey, Dr Jim Mountjoy, Mark Ferguson, Tom Boland, Rita Colwell who is based in America and travels on Irish taxpayers money to board meetings here and that also pays for her holidays which also includes another director, Martina Newell, who is also based in America and follows the same holiday as Colwell - yes all paid for by the Irish taxpayer. Next is Bernie Cullinan CEO of Clarigen, Pat Duane, Peter McDonagh UCD, and Martin Shanagher EI. Can someone please explain to me why there are so many directors to such a small outfit like SFI which each are paid £15,000 + expenses for 4 meetings annually. This is a national disgrace.
by a concerned researcher Sat Jul 07, 2012 12:10
Questions for the SFI Board:
by Taxpayer - Justice Fri Jul 06, 2012 21:07
I have heard from reliable sources that this man Ferguson and Ruth Freeman are travelling a lot around the globe. I have even heard that recently they were together again in the US.
by inside bug - Semi-State bug Fri Jul 06, 2012 13:52
Sources from within SFI have leaked out that Ferguson at a recent meeting looked worried and subdued. All of a sudden in the corridor he ranted who the f..k are Indymedia? Well the writers on Indy want answers to issues relating to bullying, vested interests and recent news that states Ferguson has major business interests in America (could this be so)? This would explain why he has spent considerable time in the US recently. Who paid for the flights and hotels? - Yes, the Irish TAXpayers. Smell of FAS all over this.
by Mise Le Meas - Justice Thu Jul 05, 2012 22:11
Thank you Mr. Hegarty.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Thu Jul 05, 2012 15:43
There is a lot of opinion in these posts. The apparent link with L´Oreal is interesting, if only due to the recent investigation in France and an ex president. Without seeing the evidence that has allowed the authorities in France to take this commercial cronyism seriously it is not possible for me to comment fully. This might upset those with posts seeking fully disclosed evidence but is it only circumstantial? The French police apparently think not, with searches of high or ex high ranking officials houses in the last week.
by John Hegarty - Unemployed Academic Thu Jul 05, 2012 11:06
It is well known since 2001 when SFI was created as a separate identity a rot at that time was already there and established. If you look close enough at the board of directors they can't wash away the taint of Haughey and co., one director in particular Mr Travers was a well-known friend of the late CJ Haughey and even to this day at social events he proclaims without any shame his pride in knowing CJ and what Haughey did for this country - I find this not alone distasteful I find it difficult to understand that these old cronies are still sitting as directors on State Boards. Then we have the clone of Mary Davis, Mr. Footrail. Every board meeting is rumoured to have a trail of his foot and his expenses to boot. Footrail is alleged to be on at least 7 state boards and is a close associate of failed businessman Crocodile Ferguson.
by Even Wearier - Justice Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:30
Concerned taxpayer (SFI spokesperson?)
by Concerned Taxpayer Wed Jul 04, 2012 21:53
The link given above to show a relation between SFI and L'Oreal is from 2010 - so at a time that Frank Gannon was leading SFI. So Frank Gannon was also corrupt and in bed with L'Oreal?
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Wed Jul 04, 2012 19:51
..you've hit the button.
by lefty Wed Jul 04, 2012 18:37
"Wake up the idiotic left, you are pre-occupied with worms on beaches, meat eaters and some gas rig in Mayo - FFS get into the real world."
by Centery Wed Jul 04, 2012 17:41
What happens to the salary that Higgins, Daly, Me Fein etc etc (yawn) don't take - does it go towards maybe another nurses pay? No, I thought not. It goes to their parties to fund the activities they then claim more money from us taxpayers for i.e trying to convince people to break a law.
by Weary - justice Wed Jul 04, 2012 16:25
The shame of it and the shamelessness of the crew at SFI. It appears Mr SuperBrain/another Researcher and ex-pat - clear defenders of Ferguson and the Holy Grail have temporarily retreated. When they come back let's have the FACTS and answers to the many questions posted on this site.
by Sally Keaveney - ex civil service & semi state Wed Jul 04, 2012 13:17
I applaud the above postings but I take offence to Pigs in the Trough comment. I presume it is from some idiot worried within SFI or maybe a director who now is worried that he will not be able to get away with the abuse of expenses that we as taxpayers pay out of our hard earned money each week. Going through Google last night I found a site htt://www.inpharm.com. Search Renovo / Mark Ferguson and here is some interesting reading. Title: 2008 Renovo wounded by cosmetic drugs set back. I won't bore you will all the details but one line is so relevant then and now on the papers today: Breast enlargement operations that at the time stated serious doubts on Ferguson's and Renovo's drug Juvista future. At that time Ferguson believed that the big pay-off if the drug worked in relation to cosmetics and super boobs. It failed totally. This in itself casts serious doubts on this man's role in SFI. Let us be honest you cannot call Ferguson a role model with or without the CBE.
by Turing Wed Jul 04, 2012 12:25
Click on 'show comments per story' it brings it back to one comment per story. Its on the right hand side above the comments.
by lefty Wed Jul 04, 2012 12:25
"Did anyone notice lefty Saint Joe Higgins and Blessed Clare Daly helping themselves to taxpayers money."
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Wed Jul 04, 2012 12:01
How so many are jumping on the use of expenses for legitimate political purposes with a vehemence not excercised against the main drivers of the attack...our tax-exile Denis O'Brien/Dermot Desmond Independent Newspapers(honourable inheritors of the William Martin Murphy mantle who's centennial 1913 lock-out looms).
by Another concerned taxpayer Tue Jul 03, 2012 21:07
the thread
by Concerned taxpayer Tue Jul 03, 2012 19:22
Another example of corruption in 3rd level institutions:
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Tue Jul 03, 2012 12:51
..of these biocidal gamblers
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Tue Jul 03, 2012 12:26
..the overnight story about GlaxoSmithKline getting hit with a $3bn fine stateside for nefarious marketing practises?
by Stakeholder Tue Jul 03, 2012 11:54
1) "As a consequence of ... increasing application of science to beauty, the line between cosmetic and medical research is becoming blurred". Renovo is referred to in this context, where their tissue healing product could be used by L'Oreal, as discussed in this 2008 article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2581859
by Pa t Holmes - Semi sector retired Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:08
Yes i remember the Mc Sweeney scandal very well. At the time Mc Sweeney would not budge one inch he knew too much when Harney
by lefty Mon Jul 02, 2012 21:50
Remember the McSweeney debacle?
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Mon Jul 02, 2012 19:55
Every time I see an image of Mark Ferguson in the press he is smiling. In this post I will make few comments, one is to read this weeks Phoenix magazine article on the SFI appointment and related Renovo. The bulk of this post is comprised of questions. If the focus is commercial why praise a failure? Does the praise on Mr. Fergusons fiscal success relate to his personal fortune? Does the scientific success relate to a placebo? Do the managers of our education know what they are doing? Do they care? Does the heightened renumeration relate to the assumption that Mr. Ferguson is working at the capacity of 160%? For whom is this 160%? What amount of shares, if any, does Mr. Ferguson hold in Renovo or similar organisations? Do these constitute a conflict of interest? Other questions have been asked in this blog, and no answers have been posted. No explanations have been put forward, this blog is open forum and therefore Mr. Ferguson could himself table a defence. Would this take commendable or foolish bravery?
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Mon Jul 02, 2012 18:24
..those academics et al are as well embedded in the unrolling political program as our well-tamed media..
by Caitlin Mon Jul 02, 2012 17:51
I have been following with interest and, to say the least with disbelief, the course of the debacle at SFI as outlined in Educational Standards (http://educationalstandards.wordpress.com) and Indymedia. Surely this cannot be another case of corruption and misuse of taxpayers money by a state agency?
by Brian Flannery - Justice and Equality Mon Jul 02, 2012 13:36
by Weary Sun Jul 01, 2012 19:45
How much worse can it get? Mr Superbrain/Other researcher, where is the LOL now? Fool and arrogant that you are, you couldn't see that you are on safer ground with sentiment. You wanted facts - now you have them. Methinks there are enough facts out there to damn your great leader, Ferguson, the emperor with no clothes.
by Stakeholder Sun Jul 01, 2012 10:05
Fact: Mark Ferguson, D-G of SFI, and his wife Sharon O'Kane still hold a considerable part of Renovo. See http://www.renovo.com/en/node/828 where as of 30 March 2012 their holdings amounted to 12.5 percent of the shareholder voting rights.
by Manchester Casualty - Looking for Work Sat Jun 30, 2012 13:40
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sat Jun 30, 2012 13:32
you did actually.
by Sean Crudden - impero Sat Jun 30, 2012 13:28 sean at impero dot iol dot ie Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth 0879739945
Well I was away playing golf this week in Tullamore but this thing about Mark Ferguson and Sharon O'Toole is very interesting. Golf may seem to have more to do with Ireland than science does. But then there is a scientific aspect to golf just as there is to almost every facet of daily life. It's not all about industrial production, mass production, commercial exploitation. It seems to me that whoever set up the Science Foundation in Ireland in the first place saw clearly that there was some kind of work to be done or some kind of job to do. Maybe a way of straightening out our thinking perhaps? I know nothing about Mark Ferguson or his wife Sharon O'Toole but if they have come over here from Manchester to promote science in our country I definitely bid them welcome and good fortune here. Everyone would prefer a cosy and predictable life with milk and honey in the pantry. But in this country we have become mentally and physically lazy due to the unearned excess of the Celtic Tiger and we all know that the way things were being done is unsustainable. Maybe we need to think things out properly, start from scratch, begin all over again. Refine our aims and objectives and our general methodology. To toe the party line is definitely not the first principle. But in general terms I think SFI should be in the vanguard.
by Other researcher Sat Jun 30, 2012 13:17
I declared my assumptions, perfectly valid in research.
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sat Jun 30, 2012 13:04
research.
by Other researcher Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:50
Or is this just a marketing ploy to stir up sales in some obscure magazine?
by Other researcher Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:48
So what are the relevant facts from the Phoenix article that we miss which are not on the blog post?
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:44
you 'assume'..
by Other researchers Sat Jun 30, 2012 11:59
I assume the Phoenix article is a repetition of this blog: http://educationalstandards.wordpress.com/
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sat Jun 30, 2012 11:11
dispute the Phoenix version of the facts?
by Other researcher... Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:50
I am not defending anybody.
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:34
..do you come on to defend Ferguson?
by Other researcher Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:23
You use strong language and provocation, but you continue to fail to produce anything factual.
by Private sector still dictates the public sector worker, sil Sat Jun 30, 2012 09:08
Jeez, Researcher if you can't handle the so-called 'attacks against you' and your crawling comments up the arse of Ferguson is making you all sensitive then don't comment. Would you like a manhug and a cup of Barrys? There, there look out the window there for the unicorns and rainbows coming over the hill. You mean, you don't feel better -GOOD!
by Other researcher Sat Jun 30, 2012 07:20
In your post I still don't see anything concrete regarding Ferguson.
by Get a grip on reality Sat Jun 30, 2012 01:50
To "other researcher" aka trojan horse, technically I don't need to let the cat out of the bag regards Ferguson tactics towards workers as demonstrated by other commentators in this thread below.
by Other researcher... Sat Jun 30, 2012 00:17
by weary anonymous public sector worker Fri Jun 29, 2012 23:06
Whats going on here? Who is juvista? Just to confirm, I have commented in the thread already.
by weary anonymous public sector worker & did i add semi-state Fri Jun 29, 2012 21:53
Appears to me that '"other researcher" works in public sector but on whose side, who knows? (Well I can guess but whatever). It does not matter, information has already gone out to the public sphere beyond cyberspace and see who is brave enough to catch it. Ferguson is under fire due to, not just the poor handling of the staff but the corruption i.e. the deliberate firing of excellent staff to supplant with yes sergeants or more naive people. I will be proved right and you will proved wrong -whatever your intentions are - watch the reports in the next 3 months - howeve as stated r I am cynical that heads will actually roll though....
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Fri Jun 29, 2012 21:36
you take your research acuity as far as the current Phoenix.
by Researcher Fri Jun 29, 2012 21:18
I don't see substance in the accusations. Renovo did not work out. Tough luck. Many pharma startups do not. There is always a risk. He gave 200 people a job for a while. He paid himself well - so do many other CEOs. He reorganies SFI - by itself not a bad thing, but maybe he is too harsh. He may say some things he should not to non trustworthy people - hardly worth mentioning. The conflict of interest statement is constructed and nonsense. Every pension fund invests in stocks these days
by weary anonymous public sector worker Fri Jun 29, 2012 20:26
The SFI debacle on the controversial appointment may ruffle feathers but it will not remove Ferguson. I have worked in both private and public sector and I know who wins. Both sectors suffer from the HR effect, people who are there to help you but we all know HR are there to help management. Cynical readers also think that the unions are there to help management even before the croke park deal in the Public sector. Lets face it and I have grappled with it, the Croke Park deal does not deal with issues of accountability, responsibility and the obnoxious automatic right of promotion depending on the years of service and the unions involved bow down to it due to social partnership. I know people in the public sector who challenged the big money accountants back in the 80s who came to order them about but then the private sector could afford better education and bull shitters than those who took jobs in the public sector and those public sector workers who then challenged the system learned wuld never be promoted and they were also ostracized. The character i.e. slimbagss in the semi-state bodies who have fashioned themselves on the private sector have gained easy promotions and bonuses. People likes Shane Ross who think working in enterprise ireland and other semi-state bodies are deluded. No one cared about working in the public sector in the good times because it was a joke to work there. Well recession or no recession, it's still a farce but it certainly isn't when you're the one apologising for all the failures when your manager is out playing golf with the private sector accountants. Private sector v public sector - give me a break. It's all cosy at the top.
by Unemployed - Manchester Fri Jun 29, 2012 13:25
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Thu Jun 28, 2012 17:55
is corruption...and strokes at the taxpayers expense...and a scientific attempt to generate economic health through innovation in science an technology...
by exPat Thu Jun 28, 2012 17:07
Weary and Opus, I think you should be posting in some other blogg, you dont seem to be following the thread. Weary; a case for the existence for SFI is not the question, and you clearly dont appear to understand the value that it brings. I do think you should educate yourself a little better on how it supports the existence of IDA and EI. If you think that SME's and MNC's would prosper without a highly skilled research community then you just dont understand the game. I do agree with you that engineering and Math could do with more investment. Perhaps we should be manufacturing more for export.
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Thu Jun 28, 2012 16:43
...welcome to the neo-liberal asset-strip show...nothing new under the Sun, as they say in Fleet Street.
by Weary bewildered - Impoverished Taxpayer Thu Jun 28, 2012 15:55
If what I am reading about the SFI debacle, its new Director General Ferguson and inside governance is even remotely true then I truly despair. How on earth can an organisation so newly created (early 2000) be apparently so corrupt? What is going on? How and by whom are these people appointed? How can an organisation/individual have so much control/power over, in the present climate, such vast amounts of money? Have we all gone mad?
by Researcher Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:30
In the US the Senate has to approve Presidential appointments. Now that's a role for our Seanad! If the Seanad ratified or even appointed someone like Mark Ferguson then cronyism and insider dealings might have been brought to the light of day. It might have brought to light some of the web of ownership and investments, and influence and conflict of interest, that he has and that he's pursuing vigorously now in his SFI role.
by Kathleen O'Kane - Curious Observer of SFI Wed Jun 27, 2012 14:21
SFI under the bizarre stewardship of failed businessman and Professor Mark Ferguson gets an annual budget of taxpayers money in excess of £150 m annually. As a retired public servant I would like to ask some questions today:- One of my family members was literally bullied out of SFI recently and when she went to her Union she was told we will do our best but Ferguson has plans for a total re-organisation. People in SFI approached her and literally told her if she didn't sign the termination contracts life would become unbearable and she would end up just short of cleaning the toilets. Ferguson cannot hide the legacy of Renovo plc Manchester. Again I know it is stated above, there have been 200 job losses and millions lost to shareholders.
by Gale Vogel - Birds Eye View Tue Jun 26, 2012 20:01
Cronyism and nepotism are the acceptable forms of bullying. Those often highly educated or experienced are excluded in favour of those connected. Worse still is the active removal of those in the SFI case through bullying and force. What has been described in these posts is disturbing but not surprising. The effects of this is wide ranging, from the personal and damaging effect on those subjected directly to the bullying, those excluded in favour of those less qualified to as noted the reputation of this country due to the falling levels of education and training. It is unlikely that all, if any of those relatives or friends have the suitable high standards required to promote improvement in our systems. It has been reported in popular media that many of our best educated and inclined to improvement are leaving for greener lands. By this it is implied that the best qualified academics are leaving Ireland in search of challenges, the challenges being thrown out of our systems here as a direct result of cronyism and nepotism.
by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Tue Jun 26, 2012 15:10
been out of range a bit...sounds like more of the same. Another possible corporate 'science' institute to serve vested ends.
by Ann Keane - Academic Tue Jun 26, 2012 14:08
by Oisin Clifford - Economist and finding Truth Mon Jun 25, 2012 13:36
I was reading the above postings with deep interest and also viewing the tweets that were very active in relation to Mark Ferguson, new head ie Director General of SFI and former chairman of Renovo - Manchester.
by Researcher Sun Jun 24, 2012 14:25
SFI should fund basic science and mathematics and engineering in schools and universities.
by Concerned taxpayer Sun Jun 24, 2012 14:07
Achievements of Professor Mark Ferguson:
by Researcher Fri Jun 22, 2012 14:12
I am a researcher and I was supported by SFI . Commercialisation of research is a major aim of SFI. That's okay - or is it?? The head of SFI is into redundancies and from what you say financial rip-off as well. Is that what SFI wants? That is certainly not what I want.
by Greham Lovett - Former Semi-State Fri Jun 22, 2012 13:15
I was so glad to receive a phone call last night relating to Indymedia and the above postings. I first got wind of the topics above on twitter a couple of days ago. I worked under Gannon who is now in Sydney. Ferguson replaced Gannon last January and I have been in touch with some of my old friends over the last few months. Senior staff in SFI don't have the balls sadly to stand up, come out and tell the Irish taxpayer what really is going on in this particular semi-state sector. As the woman above said, we don't have a Charter of Protection for Whistleblowers and until we finally achieve one the cronyism and the bullying will continue.
by Whistleblower - Charter for Whistleblowers Thu Jun 21, 2012 13:46
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Alter egos talking to each other.
Brian, deep insider etc etc. Clearly the same person.
You are fooling nobody.
Mods......
Brian, the road to the White House is just around the corner.........Paddy's Day.
The junket brigade are putting their applications forward to see who gets the free week of Bluff on taxpayers money.
Irish scientists overseas have set up a group called the Wild Geese. They are a voice on behalf of Ireland in America. The problem is Mark Ferguson - last year he tried to dictate policy but was politely told to fuck off.
I read a copy of the letter (he) Ferguson sent an Taoseach Enda Kenny in April 2012 promising thousands of jobs. Can we get this letter up on Indymedia or would their be legal aspects around this? I also notice that Renovo shares are rising and therefore if Ferguson is still a shareholder of 20 million his holding value is rising too.
What about conflicts of interests.
Deep Insider
Ferguson, SFI, is evidently trying to hide the letter dated April 2012 to An Toaiseach Enda Kenny.
Jobs no problem. Well Mr Ferguson, there seems to be a conflict of misrepresentation here. You bluff too much and Sherlock does not have the guts to call that bluff. It may happen, who knows? Your PR spin machine costs, we believe, in the region of £250,000 taxpayers money.
In the week gone by, Kenny is photographed (like Bride & Groom) with Angela Kerins, Rehab. Well now Kenny is keeping a low profile because Ms Kerins and Rehab will be next to face the Public Accounts Committee.
Our taxpayers deserve more than cronyism, collusion and corruption. The charity FAT CATS CEO's must stand accountable to the Irish people.
Brian Flannery
Commissioner Martin Callinan sits before the Public Accounts Committee. The Morris Tribunal and the checks and balances promised and yet not implemented may lead to success to exclude the two 'whistleblowers' from within An Gardai Siochana (Mr Wilson is now retired). The order from the Force is to prevent them from appearing as witnesses at the Public Accounts Commission. 'Disgusting' was the word used by Commissioner Callinan as if the charge of corruption that led him to appear before the PAC was something that could not happen. The truth is and the evidence appears to be that someone is trying to sweep clean the corrupt practices of An Gardai Siochana (refer Penalty points being scrubed on a privilege basis) based on the dictum of the Commisioner of An Gardai Siochana. We need to ask the question what about transparency and accountability? Surely, the fact that the PAC has heard representations from the Commissioner, they deserve to hear the evidence of the 'whistleblowers' and what they have to say. It is not necessary for them to incriminate by using names as they outline their findings.
Flannery: SFI sure are utilising their PR department. Now they are over in Santa Fe and more impressive they have established links with Queens University and Ulster University creating all Island collaboration in their efforts to secure funding from Horizon 2020. However, what is Ireland Inc's return on investment in the tenure of Professor Mark Ferguson both in his role as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government and as Director General of Science Foundation Ireland which is funded also by the taxpayer and we are told some independent (unspecified) venture capital. Yes Mr Flannery: that letter, the promise of 6,000 jobs? We are awaiting detail. We know that it is crucial to exercise checks and balances. We are aware that PR and marketing have sold SFI and Ireland to the punters but now we must know that there is value in the money expended so lavishly to date.
Cronyism Cronyism Cronyism. The line is so fine between cronyism and corruption and almost three years into this coalition government we are day by day being surprised by scandal after scandal. We know now more than ever, if we learn from experience, that legislation is essential so that whistleblowers can make revelations that have for years now permitted corrupt practices to be perpetrated on the purse of our citizens and the taxpayers.
To conclude: Philantropy conjures up Chuck Feeny Atlantic Philantropies. It is my sincere hope that this entity of the Third Sector escaped the malpractices we are witnessing daily in our newspapers these days. Take for example the latest: Angela Kerins, Rehab (described as one of Irelands major businesses with many employees). The HSE funds of 130 million euros payment to Rehab for three years is unbelievable. The HSE divestiture of responsibilities for vulnerable people to over 40 of organisations similar to Rehab begs the question what kind of charitable status monster have we really created in our country.
To add to the HSE as a source of funds; we now are told that as many as 19 charities are in receipt of funding from the Charitable Lotteries Schemes. To insult the people further, we are told that people in charge like Angela Kerins in Rehab are blatantly refusing on a consistent basis to advise the public of their pay package, their expenses, their fees from directorships on other related boards of companies. Phoenix magazine are years writing in pursuit of this request.
To conclude: How can this happen? Rehab scratchcards.
Sales amounted to 3,969,000 euros
Prizes 2,611,000 euros We need to ask questions, we need evidence
Costs 1,348,000 euros We need to ask questions, we need evidence
Surplus .........................10,000 ie a 0.25 net profit
Yes Minister Shatter. You were correct to bring this to the attention of then people. Administration and costs need to be audited as quite evidently many of the auditors who are retained by this sector fail to identify tthe obvious.
Who sells the scratch cards?
What about the people with mental, intellectual, difficulties who work for Rehab? Transparency dictates that we know that the people who are vulnerable and placed in the workforce are identifiable.
Cronyism must stop so that corruption can be addressed and the Rule of Law prevails.
Cronyism and in particular in our semi-state, our HSE, and now the Third Sector, all greatly enhanced by PR machines preclude us so often from the success rates achieved by those in private enterprise who have created markets, employment in Ireland but also globally.
Names that come easily to mind are Michael O'Leary, Ryanair, Fergal Quinn (founder of Superquinn) now Senator and the name Pratt and Avoca Handweavers. These men started it with an equivalent of that brown paper envelope with the week's cash allowance to keep the family unit in survival mode from week to week. Yes, I agree with the title of Donald Pratt's letter in the Irish Times today. We all must know by now that there is an over emphasis on our 'exit of the bailout' but that the real elephant in the room is the denial to the fact that our debt ratio is now in excess of (rising!) 120% of GDP. There is good reason - we fail dismally in the way we handle our public finances and cronyism plays a significant role in ensuring that costs exceed revenues and now interest on debt makes it virtually impossible to repay debts owed.
Back to Donald Pratt's common sense letter:-
Better Options for public finances
He refers to the 'interesting figures' of recent date.
Agricultural exports worth almost 10 Bn euros in 2013 is indeed a great achievement by that industry. However it is shameful to note that the interest paid on our national debt was 8.1 Bn euros. It is more incredible that almost all of this amount is paid to holders outside the Irish jurisdiction and that what we are effectively talking about is a 'total loss to Ireland Inc'. Yes, we are talking in billions and not millions.
The next point made by Mr Pratt is about our Banks and the poor return on funds for investors, often people who are retired, pension funds, savers. Mr Pratt highlights that we have approximately 90 Bn euros worth of savings (and most of this is held outside Ireland, the shame rests with the non competitive stance of our remaining banks). We are subjected to these low returns by the banks, the post-office and prize bonds because they fail to be competitive and only pay 'derisory' rates of interest that fail to match inflation.
There is a solution according to Mr Pratt
Where is the vision? The scandals of cronyism are revealed day by day. CRC, Rehab, Banks, SFI, HSE, trade unions, charities etc - when will people realise that these 'takers' are taking more than income, perks, pensions, privileges above and beyond the call of duty. They are doing so much more damage - they are saying to people who save, don't save in Irish Banks or the Post Office in Ireland, go overseas. They are saying to people in the like of the Agricultural Industry with their 10 Bn exports or for that matter to those in Tourism and their initiatives like the 'Gathering' that their endeavours are a futile because the interest on our debt is beyond the realms of being reconciled.
2014 and the word is Cronyism. Let's tackle it hands on.
On reading the summary of SFI's DG Mark Ferguson's career in Educationalstandards.wordpress.ie I can only conclude that this man is in best company among some of our top public servants. The revelations are breath-taking and our tolerance of such behaviour is even more so.
Liam Herrick once head of Irish Penal Reform stepped down last week under a veil of secrecy.
Why, Herrick has being appointed Advisor to President Michael D Higgins not a bad step forward.
Dont forger Mick D WAS A MEMBER of the Irish penal reform Trust for many years.
Herrick.s salary will be in the region of 127,000 a year not including the Park perks.
Where was this post advertised, I checked to no avail, the rot of Croynism moves on again.
Watcher.
Brian
You say the following:
It would be indeed interesting to find out if this target by Professor Mark Ferguson has been achieved.
The Digital Digest in today's Sunday Times by SiliconRepublic highlights the news about EI ie Enterprise Ireland 'creates 18,000 jobs' in end-of-year 2013 - 'the highest net gain for Irish firms in more than a decade'. It also states that total direct employment in Enterprise Ireland 'client companies' is 175,750 in 2013. This breaks down into 149,718 as full-time jobs and 26,032 were part-time. It would be interesting to note how many were JobBridge!
The punch line of the article:
SFI must be making end-of-year statements shortly.
With the more commericalised approach to science, it will be most interesting to see how many people are employed, directly and indirectly, and their success rate.
The scandal at the CRC is the latest public flogging of those who should stand ashamed at their capacity to be driven by greed, abuse of power, and privilege. Too many of Ireland's 'Entitled and Privileged' elites appear to be devoid of morals and principles and yet they have been facilitated to continue under the watch of our present coalition for nearly three years since their election.
Now we are told about the secret meeting at the Central Remedial Clinic (elites who rank among the 'Entitled' or may I say the so called 'Protected' classes) who made a decision to give a 740,000 euros payment to Kiely their departing Chief Executive plus his pension of 1,500 euros weekly (pension pot needed to sustain this payment is £4 million+). 'Burn the Quango's' mantra should have resulted in Kiely's (the old crony of Bertie Ahern's) exit two years ago. The latest excuse is that the deal is sound because if he was paid until 2016, his package would have cost over 2 million euros. Where is the credence?
This meeting that the elites on the Board of the CRC held was without any sanction from either Government or the HSE. Where is the fraud squad? What about Corporate Enforcement, what have they to say? The Public Accounts Committee shows Conlan responding to questions from TD's in such a spurious way that several questioners told him to stop being so blatant and telling lies. Confabulation obscures the Truth and we need now to stop all waffle.
To add to the appalling cronyism that consumes the CRC and many such bodies yet to come under examination, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny used this word 'Appalling'. How pathetic this sounds from a sitting Taoiseach.
Cronyism rises up yet again in the news about Uisce Eireann/Irish Water. Well we all know there is no chance Big Phil will step down. We are told the spend was 50 million euros on consultant fees to the elites (KPMG, Ernst Young, Arthur Cox et al). These consultants must be named, shamed and asked for reduced fees. Where have the millions spent gone to?
Dr Rhona Mahony is another who refuses to disclose her salary. Will she answer questions about the fertility clinic she is a partner in (based in Lower Mount Street, adjacent to Holles Street hospital) and whether they are any blatant conflicts of interest especially when one takes account that she is Master of Holles Street?
Angela Kerins won't disclose her salary either. 200 million euros turnover at Rehab but only 1% relates to fundraising. Check out this week's Phoenix magazine and today's Daily Mail who claim Rehab is likely to be subjected to an Audit asap.
Finally, I have a copy of a letter in my possession. An inside source (in the last few months) said that SFI Mark Ferguson wrote to Enda Kenny in April 2012 stating he would create 6,500 jobs by the end of 2012.
Where are the 6,500 jobs projected by SFI CE Mark Ferguson (also Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government) for the year 2012.
Where is the Phoenix? surely we were told when Fine Gael/Labour came to power, nearly three years ago, that they would 'burn the quangos'. I recall no burning embers in this sector so the Phoenix remains trapped and the rot of cronyism continues to submerge us in indebtedness and near bankruptcy.
Shane Ross, Sunday Independent, comes to our rescue again. He determinedly focused on FAS and we all know that this entity is closed down now and what was once deemed good business practice is now blatantly known as cronyism linking corruption with staff fired (with deluxe severence packages) but not legally charged, as most probably should have happened. The Public Accounts Committee was the only redress of reprimand their staff were forced to endure.
Quango: Ross aptly describes a phone call. 6th January 2014 Shane Ross phoned Enterprise Ireland to be told it was 7th January, there was nobody there to answer the call and the rest is to be found by reading the article in the Sunday Independent. Ross calls Enterprise Ireland the "Quango for entrepreneurs". He refers to Angela Kerins and her solo run while on last weeks delegation (there is a suggestion that Rehab may be funded in someway by EI) when she spoke on Morning Ireland about taking part on the visit with An Taoiseach, Minister Bruton, and the 86 others to secure business contracts from Saudia, Qatar, and UAE.
Cronyism borders on what is unacceptable practice. The casualty is the outcome when it steps over the legal line that says improper acts have been carried out and action must be taken by the arm of the law to determine whether illegal charges prevail. The truth is that the culture of cronyism, the sense of 'entitlment', this two tierism, that was recognised and shunned (with the fail of Fianna Fail) is still entrenched and without recourse that now day by day whistleblowers emerge, investigative journalists react and write, and more importantly the lifeblood of the country, the plain ordinary people of Ireland, are beginning to realise the depth of the depravity of a certain quotient of people who place the word priveleges before principles and enrich their own needs and personal powers at the expense of others.
Great piece in the Mail on Sunday by Niamh Griffin. 'Rhona Clinic ran up rent arrears Holles Street'. Not even the medical profession are above reproach. Too often we see people being charged for theft of say 20 euros for stealing something from Tesco's, the law acts harshly on these people. The squad car arrives, they are ushered out by the Gardai and removed to the station where they are charged and brought before the court. Not so for those who step over the line in the Cronyism to Corruption stakes.
Conflicts of interest seem to bother none of those who comprise the "Entitled Classes". We are told that Dr Rhona Mahony, first woman Master of the National Maternity Hospital, is a partner in an adjacent private clinic in Lower Mount Street, and this clinic was allowed to run up rent arrears to the publicly funded hospital, by whom Dr Mahony is paid approximately 250,000 euros. Freedom of Information surprisingly reveals the details to the Mail on Sunday.
".
This all begs the question if people are entitled to know why 45,000 euros was paid to Dr Mahony in 'an externally funded payment'. Dr Mahony claims that it was the media that labelled this payment as a "top-up". According to her, it was in respect of professional fees from private patients attending the NHS.
Surely now we know that hospitals providing for both private and public patients need serious audits for access to truth about who actually pays for the services rendered.
To refer back to Niamh Griffin's questions that they refused to answer, this one merits an answer
Quangos and conflicts of interest are creating inordinate demand for the services of the PAC. Waste is the culture we must tackle and as we know waste can have its own source of wealth and we sure need value added urgently.
Often people like this will fool you into believing they are do gooders when the stark reality of it is they are semi theives/carrerists,getting rich off the back of the poor.There was one charity in the uk which only gave like 2 pence out of every pound to the homeless they proport to help while employing only free labour staff and having a drip drip system of money to the top execs..
Creeping cronyism crossing over the acceptable boundaries which determine what is moral and what is not; what is corrupt and what is unjust and illegal. The real challenge we now face is how to excise the rot before corrupt practices become so embedded that they disrupt how the Rule of Law and the Separation of Powers apply in Ireland. 'Opaque accounts' is the apt description given by Shane Ross in the Irish Mail, Friday 10th January 2014.
The Daily Mail continues in its quest to identify cronyism and corruption with the headline 'Charity chief Kerins must explain to PAC (Public Accounts Committee) about payments, say Ross.
Senan Molony, Political Editor, highlights the request by Shane Ross that Angela Kerins, Rehab, must be brought before the watchdog PAC. It is not acceptable that Angela Kerins, Chief Executive can refuse to answer questions about her highly controversial salary. Some sources report that it ranges between euros 250,000 and 450,000 euros. Shane Ross, Independent TD, whose determination and perseverence, revealed the scandals within scandals in FAS, quite rightly states that if the PAC are to carry out investigations into Charities and 'top-ups' in Ireland, they must speak to Angela Kerins, Rehab, and questions must be asked about policies, salaries, ethics, cronyism etc. Ross quite aptly sums it up that to exclude Angela Kerins, Chief Executive, Rehab would be 'Like Hamlet without the prince'. Ross in an interview stated that Ms Kerins must 'be added to the witness list for the PAC meeting later this month'.
Ross goes on to highlight the links between the Central Remedial Clinic (controversy over the top-payments presently) and Rehab. Apparently, Rehab, Central Remdial Clinic and part of the Mater run an entity called The Care Trust (most enlightening).
Rehab is a large organisation and as stated by Shane Ross 'with very opaque accounts'. What is also very interesting and merits questioning promptly by the PAC is the imminent High Court decision on Rehab's challenge to Alan Shatter's (Minister for Justice):-
Transparency, accountability, audited, ethical are essential criteria that must apply to businesses, to charities, to semi-state.
'The takers and the taken' is what we have created yet again in Ireland. The National Sweepstakes originally was driven for social good but soon became smothered by the greed of those who were the 'takers'. We are so often fooled by those who suffer from a messianic complex and who tell us about what they are doing for the weak, the underprivileged, the vulnerable. Don't be fooled by the mask(s), there are people who take and climb up on the backs of vulnerable people but at the same time enrich themselves to such a degree that they become consumed by power and greed.
We must always ask questions and we must always be aware of the vested interests.
I welcome any projects that help people with mental health and disabilities. I am a little cautious when I hear Angela Kerins name (Chief Executive, Rehab) mentioned in any format relating to peoples' welfare.
Kerins has consistently refused for a decade to disclose her exact salary ie package and her expenses which according to some people amounts to approximately 425,000 euros and may possibly include the payments she receives from sitting on over 17 State boards. This is cronyism perpetrated at its worst.
I wish Headspace (see Newswire today) the best in their quest for the betterment of people suffering with mental health problems.
My question is who runs this project? Is it Rehab and Kerins?
As far as we can make it transparent, it appears that Rehab has many vulnerable young people working in large warehouses (often very cold) receiving a paltry 20 euros on top of their welfare allowances. If this is so, it is blatant exploitation.
Rehab and its board of directors that includes Kerins, Frank Flannery, Kerin's husband (Director), brother-in-law (Director) and others from the 'entitled classes'.
Time to ask questions. Could this elite group of people working for Rehab earn incomes amounting to 2 million euros p.a. This does not include the frontline workers.
Headspace - do not be used by these cronies.
Good luck with the project.
Brian Flannery
Just look at the 87 delegates (delinquents!) travelling with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny on this Trade Mission to the Middle East. The questions that the ordinary people we meet are asking is why is Angela Kerins on this Trade Mission? We know former Fine Gael Government adviser and PR guru, Frank Flannery is Kerin's right hand person in Rehab. We know that they decline to reveal their salaries with estimates stating that they are in excess of euros 250,000 but suspected to be closer to 500,000 euros.
Rehab is reported to have a turnover of 200 million euros. How much of this is taxpayers money?
Kerins is reported to take home 428,000 euros annually; taking account of her 17 State board memberships and the salary from Rehab.
This is cronyism at its worst. Kenny, Gilmore, Rabbitte promised to clean up the country.
Me and others are tired waiting!
Brian Flannery
Let's hope their pledge is investigative journalism that is sustainable for the year. Cronyism or to be more realistic corrupt practices in order words fraud are in every sector of Irish society.
Page 7 grabs the attention with sound bites like:
The Public Accounts Committee must be so inundated by now. The big question is when does the rot caused by people who abuse their position of power and feather their nests with top-up payments, pension deals, school fees for children, un-vouched expense accounts, educational trips to Stanford etc etc.
Start with FAS, the CRH, Rehab, Vincents Hospital and just keep realising that there are people out there who believe that they are the 'entitled classes' and the rules don't apply to them. These are the people who choose to put priviliges before principles. Integrity is forsaken.
It is time to stand up against Cronyism and all that it entails.
Well done to the Arts people of Limerick and the Daily Mail. Pat Cox should go now and sadly the fact is that because of the 'entitlements' that mould him, he will not leave until he is pushed.
Only learned recently that MEP retirees pay little if any tax on their fat cat European pensions. Could this be so?
Kenny is gone on a foreign Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia and on the same plane is Angela Kerins, Rehab. She is photographed with the Saudi representative for Labour in the Irish Independent today - an article worth reading especially between the lines. Reports in the media and in the Phoenix magazine have reported that her salary is in the region of e400,000 per annum and all attempts for clarification about her payment deal are refused at her sanction. Rehab involves provision for vulnerable people and the fact is transparency and accountability are sidelined on the basis that Kerins is best equipped for the position and deserves what she receives in her salary package.
Some say there are 87 gone on this Trade Mission. 2 are gone from Enterprise Ireland, others from SFI and Tourism Ireland. Wined dined by the Oil rich; it really would be interesting to know what exactly will be the benefits to Ireland Inc apart from vanity.
The Daily Mail yesterday:
Re: Sfi , Martina Newell Mcloughlin and Gm Crops. A Blatant Conflict Of Interest? - A View From The Curragh
see article here:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/104406
Most interesting posting. Yes, Ferguson appears to have won over those academics in our universities, especially those who signed their names to the Irish Times article expressing their concerns about the commercialisation of science. Academia however according to others needs an element of independence from industry as it is vested with the public good of providing education without a commercial prejudice to students.
The PR machine hones in this Christmas time with another photo-shoot of Mark Ferguson OBE. Twitter enlightens us so all that is now needed is to Google the Christmas message and learn the achievements of 2013 year and the priorities for 2014.
A snippet....in the meantime to encourage those academics to share their opinions and advise us if time has altered their views.
SFI's conquest of the Irish Universities continues unstopped. The Irish Universities and IOT's are, as Renovo/Ferguson laughingly continually says "eating out of my hands". Nothing of any independence exists in any of our universities. All the "huff and puff", "smoke and mirrors" that SFI expensively creates continues unabated. Pathetically little is obtained for vast amounts of money. Such pathetic outcomes would have happened anyway - more likely with far greater innovation and flair, scale and size.
Alas we have seen it all before. The Renovo model is now Irish Science and Engineering!
That "creeping clericalism", the part of his critique of capitalism, a "leprocy" that invades our ability to be compassionate, caring and ensuring that where possible we act with intregrity.
Listening to the antics of the Hospitals' Boards of Directors at the Public Accounts Committee, it hard to even consider the deviance of some elites never mind to digest the content of what is being revealed.
There seems to be a mini state with a State. The 1% elites otherwise quite rightly named "the entitled classes" who can quite easily sanction for themselves additional top-ups to endorse their sense of entitlement as they blatantly include this amount for their pension entitlements are being stood down this Christmas. Herein surely rests their fate as the rule of law wrestles for precedence in 2014. We all know that this is taxpayers money. Where is Minister Reilly to answer questions about the shameful culture of mini industries created under the auspices of the HSE monster.
Where is the law to stand down these elite gobshites? Dr Rhona O'Mahony still refuses to inform the Public Accounts Committee on her salary +++++++ of 247,000 euros. She is the person who comprises the board of a local clinic in the environs of Holles Street connected with 'fertility'.....or so the murmurings of media tell us. Angela Kerins Rehab is consistent in her refusal to engage with those who want confirmation of what her "Deal" is? The Phoenix magazine have sought the information for several years now.
People have suffered five consecutive years of brutal budgets and these elite continue bleeding the taxpayers and of equal importance the citizens of Two Tier Ireland with particular emphasis being placed on Health and Justice.
Cronyism creates the mire for jobs for the boys/girls who are inveigled by the mandarins who are closeted in our civil service elites but whose tentacles stretch our and preserve their status quo.
Frank Ryan stood down as CEO of Enterprise Ireland last month and yesterday the announcement is that he steps into the role of Chairman of the IDA. Nice timing at Christmas when the ordinary citizens are concerned with more pressing matters pertinent to family than jobs for the elites.
Cronyism sadly is getting to be the Cancer in every sector of Irish society.
To Professor John Crown, Oncologist, (Senator who contributes his Senate salary to cancer research), we commend you for using Senate privilege to reveal the rot that allowed charges for cancer drugs provided for free by the pharmaceutical companies to be charged against the patients' VHI. Healthcare fraud is identified as just that in the US, in Ireland we need to highlight same.
We have had enough. Let the people speak out about corruption now.
Brian Flannery
Delighted to see the board at SFI has a new chairperson. Frankly a peruse of the CVs of madam and the new board members indicates another series of quango hopping by the usual suspects. Were these positions advertised to the general public? - another broken promise!
However I am prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt and hope that this time they are not of the "nod nod, wink wink, slap on the back "brigade. We will soon see if they are any different from previous incumbents of that lucrative sideline in state agencies. Let us hope that they will deal effectively with the various problems that have bedeviled SFI in the last few years i.e.
1. The blatant conflict of interest by the arrogant cheating Director General Mark Ferguson.
2. The unethical and improper practice of promotion within SFI without the "regulatory competency- based process overseen by the Public Appointments Commission.
3. The prevalence of cronyism and the appointment of Ferguson's secretary (allegedly a relation of one member of the appointments board (the external one and also a former CEO of Forfas) who was "helpful" in putting Ferguson "in situ".
4. The "top up" culture for themselves and their cronies.
5. The alleged culture of bullying and harassment of those who refused to condone the unethical and improper practices of those in charge.
These and many other problems at SFI (and only a few mere years in existence but already imbued with the culture of entitlement) need to be urgently addressed. Indeed the big question remains : Is SFI just another white elephant of the tiger excess years? Is not their work simply a duplication of the work of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland? And all of this paid for (or at least the largest proportion of it) out of the largess of the public purse!!!!
The Public Accounts Committee today:
Shane Ross raises the questions...and what do we learn? "A phantom account". Mesmerised beyond recognition is all that can be said as we learn of what the people who have abused their power explain away as "culture".
Culture of waste, culture of abuse of power, culture of cronyism, culture of exploit the vulnerable, culture of greed and self-seeking, culture that says politicians, mandarins and certain elites can have multiple pensions for some and none for others.
The Public Accounts Committee will no doubt continue on its path to hunt down those who have been abusing power, engaging in fraud and corruption, identifying cronyism which has created multiple conflicts of interst that have been ignored for the core of elites of our society whose narcissism, ego, often motivated by their greed while imposing fear on lesser beings. It is these people that we can identify as the "entitled classes" who deserve the rewards while others just work as minnions, ever fearful of the uncertainty that leaves them one step away from poverty. When it comes to exploiting our vulnerable people as in the case of the CRC, we know we are near rock bottom in the morality stakes and the time has come to stop the blatant exploitation by those who are dedicated to self-seeking pursuits where they are driven by the greed that makes them exploit those they consider to be weaklings. Panorama, BBC 1: the programme on charities focusing on Save the Children, Amnesty and others is essential viewing for those who are concerned about the level of corruption, the impact of cronyism, the links with Corporatism and self-seeking that persists in today's society.
SFI - what can we say? Conflicts of interest are so often raised as being in existence in multiples but the narrative rolls on and the PR machine in the semi-state sector ensures that the press releases tell SFI's story rather than examine the queries raised through media sources. All we know is that science is following the commercialisation track and the scientists who spoke out are now evidently sold on 'commercialisation' as distinct from positions of aiming to include Ireland as a member of Cern.
Another semi-state features in the Sunday Independent on 8th December 20/12/13 - an article by Nick Webb.
What does Enterprise Ireland do?
State funding in 2012 amounted to 293 million euros with over 23 million euros sourced from third parties. The purpose of this funding is to support grant aid to businesses. What does become apparent is that a total unrealistic amount is paid ie 86 million euro for the administration and running costs of EI.
What is the justification of the 86 million euro administration costs?
We are told that
Semi-state and now the charities and non governmental organisations (not to mention the monstrosity they call the HSE) are gaining the attention of people who seek to scrutinise their so-called ethical and transparent hymn sheets only to discover that what lies beneath is a culture of cronyism, secrecy, deception and self-engrandisement.
We know that the banks are not lending, we know that small businesses are starved of cash while depositors receive virtually no interest yet are afraid to spend.
We know that Renovo now is a competitor in the Irish market in the supply of funds for small to medium businessness.
Quangos still abound despite all the promises to 'burn' them. Where are the mergers and acquisitions in the semi-state sector. Perhaps this cannot happen because too many people have vested interests and what is this but cronyism.
The latest trade mission from Ireland set out last week for Japan, headed by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.
Among the travellers is Enterprise new Chief, Julie Bell Sinnamon. She has replaced Frank Ryan as Chief Executive, last month and has reaped the benefits of a new Lexus deluxe model car (value e80,000+ which awaits her return - apparently, her own full-time driver is part of the 'deal'. Who, in the economic crises presently in Ireland and globally, provides these elites with this high level of privileged status especially when we know of the poverty that exists for others and the ever widening gap between the wealthy and the poor. We know that it is taxpayers money that is spent but the question is what about the vested interests of those, in particular members of the semi-state sector, charities and NGO's. We need to pay special attention to the revelations in the last week as daily the scandals are being revealed of top-ups and without shame the endorsement from Politicians and their back-room mandarins that these practices are sanctioned by some form of wink and nod that acknowledges the moratorium salary deal with an increase of over 100% for certain privileged elites.
Terence O'Rourke former partner with KPMG retired recently. The truth about these retirements is that they open the gateway for board directorships and fees. Now this retiree sits on the Board of the Irish Times, and last October he was given the post of Chairman to Enterprise Ireland. This further endorses the prevailing culture of cronyism and tells us that it is alive and well.
In the meantime Renovo Ferguson at SFI (and including his role as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government) is going to have a challenging time with former investors of Failed Renovo plc (Now reborn as Ultimate Finance plc!) seek redress through the English court system. Conflicts of interest apparently don't matter as the culture of cronyism prevails in Ireland Inc.
Thanks for the last post.
Brian Flannery
rudence
I fully endorse your sentiments but I take exception to one point, - " (SFI) seems like an angel". It is this level of tolerance (i.e. Not as bad as...) that has allowed the level of corruption, cronyism and me fein- ism to take root in the civic consciousness in Ireland. Any degree of corruption, cronyism, mis-appropriation of tax payer's money, lying and cheating (especially by those in public office or public servants) is wholly unacceptable and needs to be mercilessly rooted out. Unfortunately (through ignorance and or lack of civic duty and responsibility)we have tolerated far too much of this culture in Ireland for far too long. Integrity, civic responsibility, intellectualism and plain honesty is sneered at by a majority of those in public office. These type ensure the promotion of like-minded people so that any threat to their cozy cartels (they have not gone away, you know) is eliminated. Ireland has a history of banishing their best and then claiming their (i.e. the banished) successes as the children of "this great little nation".
I fear the terrible consequences that the culture of the past decades will deliver on the people of Ireland, not at all in monetary terms, for we can recover from that , but in the very essence of that which gives meaning and purpose to life. The Irish people have been badly "let down" by the very people who have been commissioned to put the interests of the nation above all else.
Brian Flannery "et al" continue the good fight.
24th November 2013 'By George! It's a fair fare lady...'
Shane Ross to the fore again. His dogged and persistent tackling of the privileged semi-state all consuming monster harvests scandal bedecked by more scandal. FAS steps into the halfpenny place with the revelations of recent weeks.
The media are engaged in bite sized pieces of information on a random but most inconsistent basis which feeds the apathy of the people with the exception of the older generation who at least are prepared to make an attempt to stand up against the blatant cronyism, corruption and abuse of power.
Indeed the National Gallery scandal payment ie a top-up payment to Mr Rainbird is an absolute manifestation of the cronyism that blights our semi-state. For Olive Braiden to pawn it off as some sort of good deed gesture to maintain his familial duties in the UK is an even greater disgrace. Year one, the man received his 99,000 euros compliant with Government guidelines but also he was paid 40,000 e (later to be allocated to travel expenses going forward for five years). Even worse again is the fact that the tax paid on this amounted to almost 90,000 euros. The tax advisers (at who knows what cost) duly recommended that tax had to be paid also. Mr Rainbird, from the UK, received £190,000 in year one. I can't see Michael O'Leary of Ryanair sanctioning same!
The Public Accounts Committee: We commend you but it now seems as if the culture of the entitled in the semi-state sector elites will keep you in work for decades. There must be some way of speeding up the process so that people who avoid the pay guidelines through trickery, self engrandisment and narcissistic negotiation tactics can be given the option to repay the difference or their contracts are terminated on the basis of breach of the guideline payments that the State sanction.
To SFI - it appears like an Angel by comparison to what is now being released in the media.
Down at the PAC (Public Accounts Committee), confusion began to rear its ugly head, confusion that mushroomed when Olive (Braiden) declared that, far from breaching the Government's pay guidelines of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in her approach to Sean's (Rainbird) "reasonable vouched removal expenses".
What the plain people of Ireland need to know is that:
Don't forget the tax doubled the value of the vouched payment, on the advice of the taxpayers.
The article is an essential read for people concerned with semi-state cronyism, in particular the quangos and those quango hoppers. Transparency, accountability is essential to clean up the abuse of petty power in these bodies and the time is now as we approach 2014. Top-ups and payments that breach the Government guidelines should be identified, reported on and the repayment of sums should be repaid to the Government. Root and branch reform starts here and now should be the motto.
For SFI as the poster child, the very least one can expect is transparency.
Clifford
Cronyism is an infiltrated culture and the public sector mandarins who you refer to are those on the coat-tails pumping up their salaries, their privileges, their powers to endorse the top-up culture which we now know to be blantant disregard to the plain ordinary citizen in Ireland.
This posting is but a poster child for what is really going on in Ireland Inc since the fall of the Celtic Tiger; it is those with the privileges of working in semi-state, the public sector, the HSE, and now we must add charities, using their powers to run rough shod over ordinary citizens who are exposed to the harsh realities of unemployment, emigration, under-employment, people who are excluded from the work environment due to disabilities, and most especially our young population.
Now we witness a further onslaught of semi-state sector cronyism; its power to abuse privileges and diminish principles. Public sector is to the forefront of these abuses. We condemn the bankers for what they did, the developers for what they caused but six years on, we need to urgently ask Government about public sector Ireland and why they have been supported to breach pay guidelines through Top-Ups and other mechanisms. Transparency is being hammered by privileges especially when we note the recent attack against the people through restrictions on the Freedom of Information Act.
SFI is the poster child as I said before. Cronyism is seeping through the cracks at every level and it is time to examine the culture and the people who endorse it and for what motives? Quite evidently, it is both power and greed because the deals that these people have secured are mercenary especially when you consider the access to multiple pensions that form their entitlements including education programmes to Harvard, Stanford.
Privatisation, commercialisation are the mantras of the Provosts, the Chief Executives but it is the mandarins who are pulling the strings.
Conflicts of interests mean little these days as can be seen from this site. They belong to the little people not to the newly formed elites. Let's try again and ask the question is Mark Ferguson still a major shareholder with Renovo plc? What does treasury really mean? Is this Renovo's way of saying certain founder shareholders still hold shares but are not named? Again, is this a shift for Renovo and does it mean a competitive advantage exists for SME's to source funding from Ultimate Finance while our Irish banks remained entrenched in fear that they don't supply market needs. Questions questions but we need more than ever to keep asking as the new ruling elites take hold and the chasm between rich and poor is now greater than ever before. Based on the assumption that Ferguson remains a major shareholder in Renovo and while the shares still hover around 20 p stg, does this raise any concern?
Poster child to cronyism and 500+ comments. Why such silence about what is really going on in public sector Ireland? The media must stand ashamed for not reporting on these excesses and breaches of pay guidelines. Charities are the latest; they climb up on the backs of our most vulnerable and it is inexcusable for their own material needs and ego's.
SFI and Ferguson: so many questions asked and never answered. Just look at what is released last week:
Central Remedial Clinic. A mere 3 million euros gone to top pensions? Children with disabilities are defrauded, surely.
Rhona Mahony - Holles Street Hospital CE. 45,000 e top-up to do with private patients or perhaps even the Fertility clinic in Lower Baggot Street, a partnership with fellow professionals. What else, we must ask?
Crumlin hospital: top-ups bled from shops and car-parking at the expense of the sick and dying.
Charities ape our Poster children public sector and the bottom line is privileges for the elites. Who really cares about principles - most definitely it is not those who are in the professions or for that matter in the public sector especially the Mandarins.
Media need to wise up; they need to investigate. The saying is that water finds its own level but our elites are in murky water and we need to make realistic changes now.
Scandals should not be wasted. It's society saying enough.
Reply to Investor
The dogs in the street know about the great conflicts of interest at SFI. Do the public servant mandarins who engineered Fergusons's appointment care? Not a bit. SFI is just a handy vehicle to keep their offspring/relatives/friends employed and in financial comfort and to hell with science. Sure it's only the little people who pay their taxes that foots the bill!!. You ask about CERN. Sure if we became members of such an illustrious, real research organisation there would be no money left for our offspring/relatives/friends of some members of our elite public servant mandarins.
On another issue related to SFI. Besides the massive top-up salaries and other financial perks of our elite public servants the process of appointments, especially at SFI is also very questionable. It appears that a number of appointments (of the same individuals) were made without an open appointment process (mandatory I would have thought , to all public appointment positions).
Case in point.
2012 A member/director of the management team (who incidentally was appointed director of something or other, again without open process, under Frank Gannon a former CEO of SFI) appointed Director of Enterprise and International Affairs, without open appointment process.
2013: The same individual was appointed Director of Communications, Strategy and Outreach, again without openappointment process.
Questions need to be asked and truthful answers given. These CEO's seem to run SFI like their own fiefdom. Another Queen of the Directorates!
Conflicts of interest so frequently raised throughout on this Indymedia site need to reconsider Renovo plc. It is now in the lending business to small to medium sized business. The question still remains. Did Mr Mark Ferguson and his wife Sharon O'Kane sell out of the company as it recently merged with UFG - ultimate finance group? If not, do different conflicts of interest emerge? UFG retains the name as the lending arm and its market covers the UK and Ireland, according to the location map on the Renovo plc link.
Renovo plc statement as follows:
Descriptor
Until 13 December 2012 Renovo was a biopharmaceutical product company in the discovery and development of drugs to reduce scarring, improve wound healing and enhance tissue regeneration. On that date all trading activities ceased and Renovo became an investing company as provided for by Rule 15 of the AIM Rules for Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange. On 10 September 2013 the Company acquired the entire share capital of Ultimate Finance Group plc in a reverse acquistion and therefore commenced trading activities once again.
History
Founded in 1998, Renovo commenced operations in October 2000 and floated on the main market of the London Stock Exchange in April 2006. Since 24 October 2011 the company has traded on the London AIM market.
Head Office
Talk about a modest appraisal of Renovo in comparison to the PR sculpted and frequently up-dated resumes for Professor Mark Ferguson D-G SFI (Science Foundation Ireland) and of course, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government. Please note the frequency of the PR machine's reliance on a certain interpretation of the performance of Renovo plc? What now?
'Money Money Money - its a rich man' world or so goes the song. Those who have the money are afraid to lend. The banks are cash rich but cowardice and fear leaves them clutching their cash or the ordinary plain deposit holders who now receive no return and who may even face charges for deposit accounts. The news is the ECB has directed that banks choosing to hold cash on deposit will face sanctions. SFI receive government funds, Bruton Minister for Jobs and Innovation has a fund of £150 m since early 2012, but nobody has received a draw-down yet , EI has a fund, Maire Geoghegan Quinn is positioned in Europe and the Horizon 2020 has funds too but let's get real, there is that fear to lend and if they do they are looking for matching finance. How many small businesses can really comply with this. Not many, especially now. Are they exposed and to who?
Commercialisation of science at the expense of applied science is nearly two years in place now. SFI have hosted mammoth events show-casing but are there any results that show employment and performance related achievement of an incubator business in any of our universities.
What we do now from Professor Cox is that Ireland is not involved with CERN?
Does anyone have a view on this?
Investor
Back to cronyism.
Ferguson from SFI has upgraded his CV again. There is no limit to Renovo Ferguson's ego.
The entire staff in SFI have been informed that it is Ferguson's way or get out. Profits come first, research after and as for applied science piggy back on the work of others, in different countries.
Science is not commerce. Ferguson has learned nothing from his failures at Renovo the cost of which was borne by taxpayers and investors. The cost was over £250,000 sterling.
The Sunday papers, shortly, I believe, will report further on Renovo Ferguson
Brian Flannery
Reading this very interesting Topic from overseas it disturbs me personally that the Irish Taxpayers
are being used like pawns, regarding failed Dentist Ferguson now head of Sfi in Ireland.This man
left a legacy of mayhem back in Manchester UK and yet he lords it through Bluff and Arrogance at home.I attended the ESOF last June 2012 Fergusons Arrogance was noted by Researchers across the world yet Minister Sean Sherlock sat like a sheep and said nothing. Bizzare.
Ferguson also has many problems on route, a number of Renovo Investors are taking him to court
in the new year for gross misconduct regarding his running of failed Renovo.
Then he gets appointed as Chief Scientific Adviser this is Cronyism at its disgusting worst, many have seen for years.
Donal Keane as finance adviser in SFI PLEASE answer some questions. Here is a simple one Where is the monies really going and please name the numerous Vested Interests.
Maura.
I attended the 2012 ESOF conference in Dublin. I will never forget the look on the faces of the guests and especially the face of Professor Craig Venter when Ferguson began the tirade of arrogance; to call names to a visiting scientist of such eminence was appalling. Sherlock should have acted then but failed and Ferguson even today believes he is untouchable. I know that sources within SFI are meeting secretly and also leaking emails to Government agencies about their deep concerns relating to Ferguson's behaviour and more importantly how taxpayers money is being used by this failed Renovo idiot. Looking at it, on hindsight now and working in research, out of Ireland, I cannot believe that Irish academics have not signed more petitions to get this commercially driven idiot out.
Brian Flannery needs all the support he can get but I do know there are other scandals in relation to Ferguson due in the next few months. Ruth Freeman, I believe is leaving shortly and Una Clifford will take her pension in the next few months. Una could clear up some matters before she leaves relating to the abuse that certain senior scientists received at the hands of Donal Keane, Herself on the instructions of Ferguson in 2012. This man has to go for the future of Irish Science/STEM. I say to Sherlock now - have the balls to tell Ferguson to get out. Donal Keane has more problems in relation to the Hederman Report, so it seems. Graham Love has said recently that he is so relieved to be gone from the bullshit and bluff of Ferguson. Cracks are starting to show and we need more whistleblowers to enlighten the Irish taxpayers of the extent of the millions wasted on Ferguson's ego.
Aidan Farrell
"We can expect that, for the foreseeable future, all funding will be funneled through opaque selection processes into commercial schemes, whereby those who make the most fanciful claims about their POTENTIAL research "impact" will be rewarded. (Educationalstandards.wordpress.com).
Somebody at last speaking the truth. POTENTIAL research "impact" has always struck me as one of the most fantasy terms used by the new breed of scientists in Ireland spawned by the largess of SFI. In other words it is a load of nonsense. It is a way of squandering millions of taxpayer's hard earned money to feed the massive ego of a few so called "scientists" who failed to make it on their scientific research, who have no commitment to Ireland or science, but who are simply following the funding. It is and always has been, the folly of the Irish to fail to notice the brilliance and talent of their own, and go elsewhere to look for it.
The whole SFI folly is a monument to the arrogance and hype of the celtic tiger era and sadly we are yet to reap the terrible consequences it has delivered on the future of science in Ireland.
Educationalstandards.wordpress.com
How many more skeletons can SFI's D.G. Mark Ferguson possibly have in his closet?
A lot more I guess. Cheats in the ilk of Ferguson rarely cheat only once! Ferguson's "misconduct" in this instance is possibly only the tip of the iceberg.
Renovo's Loss of millions while enriching Ferguson and his cronies!
It is inconceivable that those who appointed Ferguson did not know about Renovo. One has to ask the question that the creator of this site has asked many times, - What was going on at SFI at the time of Ferguson's appointment? There is, it could be said, a stench in the vicinity of SFI.
Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government!!
A classic case of the blind leading the blind.
Minister Richard Bruton's response to Claire Daly's Probing Questions!
Well what would you expect? I am still in shock at some of the drivel and pure fantasy uttered by Minister Bruton. Keep it up Claire. We need to hone in on the massive conflict of interest the Ministers Bruton and Sherlock fail to understand or ignore. Boys doing men's jobs.
Finally when the madness of SFI runs its course and millions of taxpayer's money has been wasted who will be the loosers and who will pick up the tab? Do we in Ireland ever learn?
http://educationalstandards.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/mo...eral/
June 2012 I like many others attended the ESOF conference in Dublin. To say that I was shocked at the behaviour or may I say the sociopathical behaviour of Mark Ferguson is an understatement. When you listen to the introduction Ferguson gave to Mr Craig Venter's presentation, you will realise that I am very serious, like many others, in what I say. It was a total disgrace. I know later that Minister Sherlock deeply apologised to Professor Venter at the hotel that night. My point is: Ferguson continues to be above the law. Academically, he was caught duplicating research papers in 1982 and we all are fully aware now of the scandal and the legacy of Renovo.
In the last six months I believe the Irish Wild Geese, as they are known, a group of Irish scientists overseas, have written to Sherlock, Bruton and Kenny in their shock and disgust at the appointment of Ferguson as Chief Scientific Advisor to the Irish Government. I also have learned from people overseas that numerous investors in Manchester are taking civil action against Ferguson and the Board of Renovo and this may reach the corridors of the English fraud squad. Ferguson terminated the contracts of eminent Irish scientists who would not lick his arse and I ask now Donal Keane and Una Clifford to come out and tell the truth to the Irish taxpayers.
Aoife O'Leary
Well researched piece Brian, correct. Renovo's new Chairman is Matt Cooper. The problem now is Ferguson is pushing SFI towards commercial quick profits which means he is using taxpayers money to get research done. Now, in the meantime, Brookes and Cooper have announced that Renovo will also be taking a new angle in relation to science research. Would Sherlock try and understand the definition of conflicts of interest. At present I have two friends who work in SFI. They are afraid to speak out but they are also baffled how a fraud enquiry has not been launched into Renovo in Manchester.
Today, Renovo runs towards making a profit. They need investors. In the middle of this Ferguson has 270 million of Irish taxpayers money to spread around in research. Also on top of this he and Sharon O'Kane hold 20 million Renovo shares. As an Irish emigrant and working in science my question is simple. What the fuck is going on here? This story or may I say scandal is far from over.
Thanks again Brian. Before I finish many overseas now are reading the indymedia site and will be coming on board with any relevant information that may help you but more importantly help the Irish taxpayers who are being stamped on by the elite and the Cronyism that pervades Irish society and especially in this recession.
Niall
Public Relations and spin keeps us informed weekly of the pursuits of Professor Mark Ferguson, DG Science Foundation Ireland while not forgetting his dual role as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government. This man hovers at each level of scientific potential from Athlone, to ESOF, to Science Week starting this week and a photo shoot in the Irish Times as to why young students, primary and secondary, should consider studying science. Quite rightly, he advises our young people on the importance of STEM ie Science Technology Engineering and Maths to everyday life. "Taking a degree in STEM subjects equips you for a very wide range of careers, from designing medical devices to working in the microchip industry. You could work in social media or developing electronic games". Yes, opportunities abound both for students, academics and also for people who can capitalise on the ideas of others.
Conflicts of interest and over 500 posts on Indymedia, media coverage particularly in the leading newspapers, search for FOI papers, article in Times Higher Education, questions raised in the Dail - nothing seems to merit a response to say that Mr Mark Ferguson's appointment was in accordance with the procedures that apply to being employed in the semi-state sector. Ferguson's role in Renovo, the loss of jobs, the failure of five trials into scar tissue but more recently the merger of Renovo into UFG fail to get the confirmation sought by many.
Renovo is remorphed. The question remains about the position of Mr Ferguson and his connections, particularly his shareholdings (who holds the funds in the treasury) on the board of Renovo. The question still remains if there are any conflicts of interest?
Renovo plc (share prices once more rising from lows of .11p stg to .19p) has just announced the appointment of Mr Matt Cooper who takes over from Mr Jaime Brooke (who will remain on the board as a non executive director). Mr Cooper has a wide range of experience in finance and is one of the founders of Capital One Bank which pioneered 'the use of data and analytical tools in the mass marketing of credit cards'. This bank is now one of the top ten banks in the US based on deposits. This man is presently the Chairman of Octopus Investments, the largest provider of Venture Capital Trusts in the UK. The expertise being the building up of a reputation in the way investments are managed that focus on designing products to meet their customers' needs.
Again, the question is about conflict of interest and Professor Mark Ferguson. Renovo plc has jumped horse, so to speak, from pharmaceutical trials and scar tissue, to investment in small to medium enterprises. Matt Cooper quite clearly highlights this on his new appointment:
"The problems facing SME's in accessing capital for growth is well documented. Renovo has a tremendous opportunity to become the leading provider of financial solutions for SME's. I am delighted to be taking on the role of Chairman and believe that our plans to develop a range of innovative lending productgs and services will revolutionise the market"
Horizon 2020 formally starts in 2014. This is about new research and innovation funding for Europe and Irish researchers are being encouraged to get involved. Funding for the 2014-20 amounted to e70 billion and Ireland has benefitted from e600m in research funding from FP7. The aim now is to gain access to more funding, even as high as 1 billion euros. Professor Mark Ferguson at the recent Athlone venue urged researchers to come forward to seek funding, with emphasis on encouraging new faces.
The question still remains:- What do the science academics have to say now? Do they now retract their views as outlined in the Irish Times article which was signed off by many well known members who represent STEM in Ireland?
Check out the link to access shareholdings of Mark Ferguson and Sharon O'Kane in July 2013: http:www.renovo.com/en/node/828
Brian Flannery
I like many others lost money in Renovo and that is the risk Investors take at all times. But the main problem we have in Manchester is we were promised the Stars by Mark Ferguson.We got sucked, in lost heavy and Ferguson walked away with 16 million stg.250 job losses and Taxpayers lost 110m stg yet the Irish Goverment appoint Mark Ferguson head of SFI and add to his massive ego Chief Scientific Advisor.
Some people back here in England find all this Bizzare to say the least.Ferguson left a legacy of bitterness, greed and a lot of unanswered questions how he and his cronies ran Renovo into the ground.Irish Taxpayers keep asking the questions because Fergusons Ego has no moral boundaries.
Investor, who wont stop asking Questions.
Reading the hundreds of comments here would make a brilliant documentary. Informed by my brother at home at the weekend I applied like others for a postgraduate post in Enterprise Ireland and also in SFI. Again it was window dressing the posts were already filled by the inner clique. Talking to friends from various parts of the globe at the weekend and now reading Indymedia, they cannot believe that an Irish Government could appoint a failed egotistic Ferguson to the position not just of DG SFI but as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government.
I thought with the change of Government there would be some kind of clean-up in that toxic world of cronyism. In the opinion of many, it has only got worse. Doing some research of my own on Renovo it boggles rationality that Ferguson can sit on 20 million shares with his wife O'Kane and inform the Irish people through the Sunday Times that he runs the country. Taxpayers and the 500,000 unemployed plus the 225,000 like me who have left Ireland deserve a lot better than this.
Well done Brian
Aine Stafford
Yes, I totally agree with you Con. Ferguson has the legacy of Renovo and it won't go away. From this side of the Atlantic I can talk a little more freely.
It was never mentioned on Ferguson's CV applying for the role in SFI in 2011 that he failed in Manchester. Quite the contrary it stated that Renovo was a world class company which had major success globally on the potential of treatment of scar tissue. At this time Eoin O'Driscoll and other cronies handed Ferguson the job on a silver plate with the backing of Sherlock and Ruairi Quinn. One has to ask how the CV of Ferguson was not properly vetted. Then again this site has asked numerous questions in relation to the cronyism which surrounds Ferguson and the SFI board of directors, many of whom now appear to be replaced.
Emer O'Driscoll, daughter of Eoin, walks into her job on e90,000 pa, a gift, to Eoin O'Driscoll, Daddy. This is the true definition of cronyism at its worst. Coming down the road three major investors who lost millions in Renovo will be taking civil writs against Ferguson and Sharon O'Kane for incompetence and incorrect data involving Renovo. This is a scandal just erupting slowly. Ferguson is waiting for share prices to rise. Don't forget he still sits on 20 million shares. The conflict here is simple, he has the power from his role as SFI D-G to enhance Renovo/UFG without anybody getting a trace of DNA. Insider trading is a serious offence but very difficult to pin point. In this case I believe a chimp would figure out what is going on. Richard Bruton, Mr Clean, and Sherlock know exactly but they turn a blind eye. Before I left Irish shores, Una Clifford informed me that she had the authority to terminate contracts. I knew then it was time to leave because Una is only part-time HR at SFI. Yet, Ferguson gives his cronies jobs and extra powers. Donal Keane was shamed at Drogheda Hospital and named in the Hederman report. Now he is Ferguson's bully boy at Wilton Place. Irish taxpayers need to find out the full facts but Irish journalists also have a responsibility to write the facts and get Ferguson out for the sake of Science and its future beyond just the role of commercialism based on greed.
Link related to Sharon O'Kane is not easily accessible; copy, paste, google
Stephen Keating
Irish Times 04/11/2013
300 Irish researchers (special invitees of SFI - wonder why??) are gathering in Athlone (presumably all expenses paid) to "figure out how to tap £1billion of European funding". I must be very stupid but I would have thought that our eminent "world class" researchers would have been capable of figuring that out all by themselves. More to the point I would have thought that their "world class ""cutting edge "ground-breaking" research would have had no trouble attracting research funding from Europe.
But no, this hand picked group must attend a special two day event sponsored by SFI's Director General, Ferguson. (This guy is certainly "World class" when it comes to obtaining millions of taxpayer's money for what ,it could be argued, very very dodgy research results. (What became of the drug trials carried out at Renovo? - NOTHING - except of course to make Ferguson and his buddies very rich). That is what is meant when Ferguson talks about "MAXIMUM RETURNS".
Roll on 2020. It will take that long for those in charge to realise that they have been conned, just as were the British Taxpayers and Investors in the "Renovo" scandal. Don't forget those who were with him in the Renovo scam are still sniffing around SFI. Sure SFI's "Own Agenda 2020" will deliver but to whom is the big question??? We will have plenty of time" to sit and wring our hands" while Ferguson and his cronies set off to the sunset very rich, just like the civil servant mandarins who put him there, are doing on their very fat pensions. Do we Irish ever learn?
Reading Irish Media online is depressing after 5 years away. Sometimes ordinary people have to stand up and say Enough is Enough. Sadly we wait, hopefully not too long.I applied for a post grad
position in SFI last March, all data completed and waited until early May no reply and I mean nothing.
I learned with no surprise that the post was filled while I was making arrangements to fly home for interview.
Reading about Ferguson is disgusting, how a man can take Renovo to its knees walk away with millions while 250 people lost their jobs. Now Ferguson is Chief Advisor to the Irish Goverment is mind boggling. Renovo is back trading again and Ferguson and wife O Kane hold 21 million shares
is a major Conflict of any fucking Interest. Taxpayers wake up, well done Brian this topic wont go away it needs to be investigated urgently. Ask for Tom Lenihan well no surprises from this side.
Ciaran.
Wallowing in self pity is the Ireland of today while those with the status quo succeed in stacking up the wealth under the auspices of being part of the established elites.
Read this link and please answer one simple question - Why if in 2010 Professor Ferguson's wife spoke of The Renovo Story as 'a company's value that rocketed to a whopping £500 million at its peak (and NB....is now worth £70-80 m Sterling) would a man seek a job at SFI in November 2011 and be eligible for same. The trial failed, people lost jobs, investors lost millions, and now that company Renovo has merged with UFG and their target is providing funding for small to medium based enterprises. Conflict of interests abound and yet nobody shows even the slightest reservation.
www.lancaster.ac.uk/users/gew/case_studies/casestudy2_Renovo.pdf
Ireland is sinking into a mire of indecision and moral bankruptcy that needs urgent attention.
Today, we read about another blatant breach of our Separation of Powers. Alleged it may be but it is by Mark Tighe and is on the front page of the Sunday Times. A dispute about a child, the mother is alleged to have spoken to a politician who in turn is alleged to have intervened and spoken to the sitting Judge. Sorry, what about the Rule of Law; the Separation of Powers, the common sense of the politician? Do the ordinary people of Ireland no longer grasp what is morally right and what is morally wrong? Did nobody learn anything from the Sheedy fiasco which saw two judges being forced to retire from the Bench. Integrity is jeopardised these days at every level and nobody wants to say enough.
How can we expect the young people to have a sense of morality when the mentors, the academics, the politicians, the judiciary, the civil servants fail to do anything to stop this creeping moral bankruptcy, this cronyism that is really about corruption. Our academics are supposed to be leaders but they fail dismally to stand apart from the creeping cronyism that distracts them from their true function as tutors, teachers. They fear the loss of their cosy pensions, the perks, the deals, the life long embeddedness to universities like Trinity, UCD.
Our youth have no parameters to follow. It is beyond comprehension that a young man can become President of Trinity's Students Union; that he can take up the seat and force the Union to hold a ballot. What is more surpising is that a Provost can punish a 'cheat' with a reprimand and allow him to resit the exams in September (which he no doubt passed) endorsing a futile reprimand on a student who shelters behind a history of depression. What is more frightening is the endorsement of his fellow students who voted him in at 62% vote. What does this say about the legal profession? His father was a lawyer; his mother is a judge; he should at least have been made repeat a year or asked to change faculty.
Again I say: Renovo needs many questions answered and if you read what Professor Mark Ferguson's wife Dr Sharon O'Kane promoted in 2010, it is quite apparent that their credo is a commercialised science and they have sold the package to Ireland Inc.
I totally agree Brian. The double jobbing here between Ferguson, heading up SFI then to the shock of numerous scientific people being appointed to the role of Chief Scientific adviser to the Irish Government. It is not that long ago, November 2011, in Manchester, when Ferguson had to exit out the backdoor for his own safety from a meeting with shareholders of Renovo. We all know what happened since, thanks to you and the research you have put in and the feedback received from many other contributors to Indymedia and of course, from the newspapers.
Ferguson walked away with a hefty bag of almost £15 million Sterling and with Sharon O'Kane - then was appointed to SFI in Ireland to the total bewilderment and shock of thousands of people in Manchester. I want to say that his third job is Renovo (now merged into UFG and remorphed into financing SME's). Ferguson has not cut ties with Renovo, he is up to his neck in Renovo and the proof is simple for any Irish taxpayer to investigate. He owns 20 million shares in Renovo and I ask the question why aren't the Irish science world asking serious question in relation to many conflicts of interest that this man is creating presently. I have friends who know him ie Ferguson when he lectured at Manchester univerisy and he is one hell of a bully with one hell of an ego. All you have to do is look in at the PR machines workload at present in SFI that he has embalmed himself in to the cost of the Irish taxpayers. The current Minister in charge of SFI, in my opinion, down the track may himself face criminal investigation.
Conflicts of Interest are a serious matter; as is internal trading.
Ian Elliott
First, I want to thank Wageslave for the decision as a moderator to return Hugh Murphy's posting on Asbestos title 'My lungs are full of asbestos'. The hidden so often escapes the media it justly deserves because of the financial/employer/government/medical/legal implications. Mr Murphy's quest for justice; his knowledge of the harm imposed by breathing in asbestos while working at the Belfast docks, is an experience society needs to learn from so that hazards, particularly chemicals, minerals, waste, are given the necessary attention to avoid situations that people are exposed, as in Mr Murphy's case, to Asbestos or other hazardous materials. It is now we need to know how to avoid these causualties highlighted on this topic concerning Asbestos because the outcome can be 40 years on, and as the videos reveal, they cause a horrible form of that killer disease called cancer. 'Death on the Docks' tells the story.
Back to my own fight about cronyism. Fergusons CV is starting to evaporate. At the moment I am researching back in the period 1983 and the math's just doesn't appear to be adding up. Ironically, it is the year that the American Science publication highlighted the falsification of papers, which resulted in an apology from Mark Ferguson. To be continued..................
Colm Kepple reports on the view of Mr Patrick Cunningham in today's Irish Independent. I am little confused at the message. Clearly the heading states that the 'State 'is real driver of R&D' but the opening sentence states that Industry and Business spend twice as much on research and development. Is it more investment that Science Foundation Ireland needs through public spending or is the challenge to raise funds from both Industry and business. These boundaries are unclear. It might be worth reading Mr Patrick Cunningham's piece (who relinquished his post (2007-2012) to Professor Mark Ferguson, D-G SFI) in the international science journal Nature where Mr Cunningham said 'Ireland was the only country of 19 that increased the amount on economic objectives by more that 10%. For clarification, the science community should comment because the inference is towards a beneficial model that promotes the commercialisation of science. In fact, the concluding comment augurs for economic return as a preference without mention that science research can extend through many years without results and commercialisation leaves aside the bigger picture. Take for example Cern - Ireland and another country are still not part of the 'team'.
What is message to Government and policy initiatives about science, the publication of research, the long term, the short term? According to Mr Cunningham's conclusion, it says the following:-
"In this time of recession, when taxpayers are asked to invest their hard-earned money for the public good, all governments need to reassess the aims of their R&D budgets.........
"Each nation must decide its own priorities; the experiences of Ireland and Finland suggest that there is much to be gained by investing explicity for economic development - the benefits might be evident within a few years"
Note the word 'might'
What has Academia to say now?
Brian Flannery
I am out of Ireland 6 years now and not my own choice. Reading the above postings I am not shocked because Cronyism is a cancer in Irish Society. Brian Flannery needs all the support he can get right now because Ferguson will never admit he cheated Research papers in America
in the 1980s it wont happen.
This man holds 21million shares in Renovo which is back trading again whats going on.
Can Sean Sherlock not see the Conflict of Interest we can see it clearly from over here.
Keep digging Brian and you will find a way of cleaning this corrupt shit up, and please would the Irish
so called Science world roll in behind Flannery.
Liam Jordan.
I get the Irish papers regularly and I also keep in contact with Brian Flannery and others. Last week's Independent was an absolute disgrace that Ministers Bruton and Sherlock would endorse a smart science economy by pouring in millions of taxpayers money. I have not been back to Ireland for over five years now but I am deeply saddened that Ferguson who failed in Manchester and other places can now dictate on how science is directed in Ireland.
People should be made aware that this man is highly toxic and is out for Mark Ferguson only. Some of the academics from Ireland who live in the US now will not come back until Ferguson departs. Yet, the Irish science world back at home remain on their knees and I find this deeply shocking and that they lack the balls to take on this egotistical character. One of my journalist friends back in Dublin has told me he has personally blocked FOI papers which should be shown in relation to how he runs SFI internally. The waste of taxpayers money is alarming and it is not unlike the fiasco that emerged from Renovo. I hope that science world in Ireland and the politicians come together to expose Ferguson, his failings at Renovo but most importantly they need to deal with the conflicts of interest which border on negation of jurisprudence.
Peter Hogan
Reading this unique thread on cronyism in Ireland I wish to point out that I agree with many of the above postings.
I was reading the Irish newspapers this week and came across the article which Dr Robinson has commented on, see above. My experience with science in Ireland at the moment is very cold. I feel it has gone totally into a commercial state. This is unhealthy. It is led by a failed businessman, Mr Ferguson and others. One of my friends attended the ESOF in Ireland 2012 and was shocked at the behaviour of Ferguson and Ruth Freeman. The academia world in Ireland will surely have to take a stand regarding the future of how science is being directed. What I mean is; young scientists are being pushed out if they do not tow the line. This is not the way science works. Science is a world of research. It offers young people opportunities to explore. What I see in Ireland now is blind greed and a dark momentum to make profits in as short a time frame as possible.
The academics at universities wrote a letter, I believe, to Minister Sherlock in 2012 and also one to Minister Bruton who heads up Enterprise. I have seen a copy of the letter and it outlined their reservations in relation to the appointment of Mark Ferguson. From my point of view, if any scientist, in any field is caught falsifying research papers, they are quarantined for a long period in this career. This sadly did not affect Ferguson, it actually enhanced his career and gave him the extra very vital appointment as Chief Government adviser - Ireland. I find this breath-taking. I am deeply concerned for young students and more importantly for the morals of where science is going presently in Ireland.
Peter Jacobson
Give us a break from the over-used, silly and untrue superlatives of "global impact", " world class", "cutting edge" of SFI's Public Relations machine and the speech writers of Ministers Bruton and Sherlock when attempting to justify the obscene and wasted Taxpayer's money that this Government pours into "Research" via SFI. The public are not stupid.
SFI is funding (ie Taxpayer is funding) AMBER (Advanced Materials and Bio-Engineering Research) to the tune of £35million in partnership with 18 companies who are putting up£23million - averaging less than £1.5million each and we are expected to be excited and delighted WOW!! Who will be the biggest beneficieries? Certainly not the Irish Taxpayer. The Irish Government is spending over 70% of the £300million of taxpayer's money on so called "RESEARCH" distributed by SFI et al. (See" Finfacts.ie" for a coherent breakdown of research funding in Ireland.)
The massive funding of Taxpayer's money is taking place against a backdrop of severe and devastating cuts to our sick and dis-abled, our elderly, our schools, our third level institutes and our hospitals. For what? To make a few Professors very rich while the so called "centres of excellence" keep our remaining post docs. in short term part-time jobs and the idiots in charge call it "job creation". We do well to remember what Paul Nurse said in his address to the Royal Society when he noted that the funding policy in the U.K.( and Ireland, courtesy of SFI's DG, Ferguson) "tended to attract less effective and creative scientists who are simply following where resources are being made available" (Timeshighereducation .co.uk).
In the meantime Ferguson is gadding about with his cronies promoting himself and his business interests. At a networking event sponsored by SFI at the Irish Embassy in London a few from the bio-medical research community met representatives of the Wellcome Trust which fund research. With Ferguson's usual penchant for half truths," porky pies" and timely forgetfullness he never mentioned that representatives from his own company "Ultimate Finance Group/Renovo (whose mission is to access funding for Research SME's at commercial rates) were also present. Our brightest and best have departed to be replaced by charlatans and failures from other jurisdictions. It is official. We are governed by FOOLS.
Certain questions arise concerning the CV of Renovo Ferguson. Sources from within and from the academic world are gaining ground. The country now is aware that he falsified papers in the US as highlighted in the scientific journals but some now are questioning if Ferguson qualified as a lecturer as early as 1982. There seems to be a 2 year discrepancy and further investigation is urgently needed. Deep Insight ......
Clarity and transparency are withheld.
Is it possible to access the CV of this man appointed to two posts within one year in SFI as D-G, and a few months later to the post of Mr Patrick Cunningham who was stepping down as Chief Scientific adviser to the Government. Media speculation merits a response and now.
Indications from people in the scientific elites is that the CV will reveal this 'ultra ego' at large. Public relations expenditure at SFI since his arrival in January 2012 rebounds the message at every opportunity 'I achieved, I achieved, I achieved and all the rest'. This man is not shy to reveal his origin and his creation of the publicly quoted LSE company Renovo minus the failures of the drug trials, the losses to shareholders of funds, the losses of jobs to ordinary people in Manchester. Not suprisingly, Renovo shell company retained Mr Ferguson and his wife as shareholders and this company has recently subsumed United Finance Group (concerned with lending funds to small to medium based enterprises). There is scant or no mention of Renovo, the failure but now remorphed. 250 people lost their jobs and over £250 m sterling was lost by investors. Investors in Manchester are pulling their hair our on what's going on in Ireland.
We know it is widely reported that Professor Mark Ferguson falisified research papers in the USA in the 1980's and this was exposed by the American Scienctific Journal, which named him. Plagiarism is a serious matter, doctored research is equally so if not more so. These are facts; check out the links. They exist.
I ask Sean Sherlock why the cover-up. What is going on?
Last night in London, Ferguson (SFI D-G and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government, hosted a dinner with invitations to the elites in the scientific world with the Irish Ambassador in London. Attending were ex Renovo cronies Brooks and others.
This failed ego maniac has to be stopped to protect Irish taxpayers in this country. Could it be possible, surely not, that this man has his salary paid to an offshore account? Why does Sherlock remain quiet to the dissent. Respected Irish scientists have written in the Irish Times but to no avail. Ferguson told Mark Tighe, Sunday Times, last year that 'he runs Ireland'. Sadly, it is beginning to happen.
Check out the SFI webpage, the events, the public relations, and ask how much is the public relations costing? Check out the board members; who left; who remain; and who are newly appointed. At all times be aware of conflicts of interest and more importantly be alert to the vested interests.
Brian Flannery
Athlone this week holds another Ferguson PR stunt.
I hold a letter he sent to Enda Kenny which was written April 2012 promising 1,000 new jobs. Failed! I will check this out legally to see if I can post it on the file. Insiders in SFI inform me he is screaming with fury about all the leaks flowing out of SFI.
Una Clifford had no legal authority to terminate contracts. There is going to be an inquiry on this in the coming months. Clare Daly and others are requesting that Ferguson and his cronies face an Oireachtas Committee. Fight goes on.
Brian Flannery
I agree with Brian, Keane was stated in Hardiman Inquiry to have added to the cover-up scandal at Medical Missionaries of Mary, Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. I also believe he has been involved in a culture of bullying and this will be revealed when the court cases are forthcoming.
Clifford is another who is worried about the complaints coming down the track shortly.
Ferguson is hosting another massive SFI "gig"in Athlone next week. Is this yet another total egotistical PR stunt for Ferguson?
When do we tackle the culture of waste that drives this country downwards? When does the spin stop? A tight ship is what Ireland Inc needs to be and this means that now is the time for SFI to reveal the impact of commercialisation science and the success to date. Let's start with the jobs created?
Can someone please explain how it is possible that 'Forfas' pays out 4.7 million to rent empty premises in Dublin 4? Carrisbrook House is an imposing multi-storey building that houses the Israeli Embassy, adjacent to the US embassy, the British embassy and many others. For five years now, apart from that leased to the Israel embassy, the remainder is unlet and Forfas claim that they are unable to sub-let it. We need to ask questions why? Forfas has a 65 year lease on this premises. More alarming is the fact that Minister Bruton for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has confirmed that the Forfas Agency has paid out £4.7 m in rent for this prominent D4 premises since 2008.
Where is the innovation Minister Bruton? Well done to Sinn Fein's Peadar Toibin for raising the question in the Dail. The reply is damning because we know businesses are crippled in this country with the 'upward only or equal rent reviews' and yet no initiative is shown by the like of Forfas to align with the private sector who are seeking rent reduction provision. The evidence is that five years on these public sector elites, remain too cosy to ask for bargains and the waste is evident...only this time it is the government endorsing vacant space without utility and paying rent for it. How many more government buildings reveal the same story? How can the like of Forfas function if the nucleus is so lazy that they can't rent out properties in Dublin 4 and start with direct access to legislation and the challenge to the upward-only clauses.
Keep asking questions? Answers will tell the truth, we hope!
Donal Keane, Chief Hatchet man in SFI, was the accountant in Drogheda Hospital in the mid 1990's. Keane was criticised in the damning report for blocking natural due process in relation to a surgeon at the hospital. Keane is well known for bullying vulnerable people and this can be proven, and I will do same shortly. At the moment Donal Keane alongside Una Clifford who makes phone calls to private homes at 10 pm at night informing people ie academics that their contracts are terminated with immediate effect. I now have the documents to prove this and more to come. I will give the links shortly. The Hardiman report criticised Donal Keane and even today he still supports the same surgeon. Keane knows when the facts come out his position is totally past tense and Renovo Ferguson will let him loose to the wolves to protect himself.
I ask Donal Keane, SFI, today to come out now and tell the truth and I say to Una Clifford, I have emails sent by you making people feel under pressure in their homes at night. Go now and make some decisions because the links and facts are coming out.
Brian Flannery
Brian, I fully concur with your observations and hope that you get some answers to your many questions and more. I must declare an interest here. I am a young emigrant entrepreneur who failed through lack of resources to make it in Ireland but I have since emigrated and thankfully with a lot of help and support in my adopted country, I am hopefully, in the process of making a success of the idea germinated in Ireland. Unlike many of the new start-ups in Ireland I have no intention of selling the business on to an American Company once I have succeeded with the help of tax-payers money.
Perhaps you or some other "citizen journalist" might be in the position to investigate the link between funding of tax-payers money from Enterprise Ireland "et al" for young Irish entrepeneurs who just happen to have daddies who are former CEO's of Forfas or who are well connected to such organisations. Perhaps Minister Sherlock could help you here. You might also look at how many of their off-spring are nicely ensconced in cushy public sector jobs like SFI?
What role has Human Resources of SFI played in covering this up (if indeed it is true)? I am open to correction and unreservedly apologise if I am wrong.
How have the well paid Board Members of SFI and other Agencies condoned this most unethical behaviour? One wonders if there is any end to "to snouts in the trough"
Bowed but not broken.
The National Prioritisation plan with its 14 areas of research has not only become The Holy Grail of SFI but is being implemented in, at times a brutal and unthinking manner by Renovo Ferguson. It is negative to any support for pure mathematics, or astronomy, or geology or other areas.
In the U.K. the President of the Royal Society, Paul Nurse, has called a spade a spade in regard to this. He has noted that "Ring-fencing money for certain areas of scientific investigation risks backing "low-quality" research"
See: The Times Higher Education:
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/sir-paul-nur...ation not top-down-allocation/2007984.article
Reply to "Celtic Mist - Justice" at Mon Oct 14, 2013 14:23
"Why?"
"... and it also permits them to blackmail ...": please see at 2 minutes 10 seconds into video interview with Julian Assange (of WikiLeaks) embedded in the RT report at:
http://rt.com/news/assange-interview-snowden-journalist...-079/
(Published time: October 11, 2013 16:31)
"That permits the US to predict in some ways the behavior of Latin American leaders and interests, and it also permits them to blackmail. Nearly every significant person in Latin America is blackmailable by the US, because the US has access to those telecommunications records that have passed through the US, as well as other records it has obtained within LA by planting fiber optic taps, surveillance equipment at embassies and DA bases. Even one of those revealed in Ecuador as a result of Snowden`s leaks." (Julian Assange)
However, there's no good reason whatsoever to suppose that the blackmailing by the US (aided and abetted by its many supporting accomplices worldwide) is restricted to almost "every significant person (of influence)" in Latin America, is there? Personally, I very much doubt if ANY nation-state in the world, which is of significant interest to the fascist totalitarian "ruling elites" of the US (and their many accomplices elsewhere), escapes such criminal activity. Such nation-states would undoubtedly include the Republic of Ireland (in my opinion): and not least because of the estimated 5.4 trillion Euros worth of untapped oil and gas reserves off the West coast of the Republic of Ireland referred to at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/103771#comment297335
Related Search Engine List:
"Blackmailing by US, WikiLeaks, Edward Snowden ...":
http://tinyurl.com/m7kchg6:
Related E-mail to Republic of Ireland TDs (MPs) dated October 13th 2013:
Titled "Totalitarianism / Impunity" E-mail to Republic of Ireland Senators (October 11th 2013) ..."
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/Dail31TDs/Group1of2/1...l.htm
I totally agree Brian and to add to your points that Bruton in accordance with semi-state employment rules has to advertise vacancies re employment positions.
The post left behind by Professor Patrick Cunningham as Chief Scientific adviser to the Government was given to Ferguson, in my opinion, as a gift. Why?
Goerge Kiely Siptu representative played low key in relation to the dismissal by Ferguson of four acclaimed Irish scientists, the fact is he did nothing. He played the party line and again the question is Why? It is interesting to note that Kiely himself appears to have been granted a promotion in Enterprise Ireland some months ago ... a transfer to do with Indian overseas investment in the role of market manager.
Ferguson under pressure!
More questions will be asked on how the appointment of Renovo Ferguson will be asked concerning the procedure of his appointment to the eminent role of Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government on top of his position as Director-General of Science Foundation Ireland ("SFI"). Bruton made the announcement suddenly after Professor P Cunningham retired.
Why was the position of Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government not advertised in compliance with Irish Employment Law? Why was it not tendered out to other independent qualified people with integrity. I believe Bruton has serious questions to answer along with Sherlock.
This type of blatant corruption must be investigated by an Independent body.
Brian Flannery
Yesterday, Oct 06th, John Burke, of RTE reported on the ‘This Week’ show that an internal report drafted by EI gave details of the impact the public sector embargo had on Enterprise Ireland’s ability to assist with exports.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1006/478688-enterprise-irel...fing/
The powers that be in EI plead with crocodile tears that the inability to hire staff members has affected their role in the Irish economy. Au contraire, Enterprise Ireland can create jobs when they want to and they have admitted to receiving sanctions for jobs from the Dept of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.
But, Perhaps Mr Flannery, the reason why people don’t speak out about cronyism is due to a very special sanction provided to the likes of EI, note the attached PDF which provides details of specific job creation which can be easily confirmed with an FOI request.
Enterprise Ireland human resources staff appoint union shop stewards by using the tax payers benevolence and their purse. Indeed this has been the agreement for at least two decades with at least 3 paid reps. The recent appointment of an Enterprise Ireland HR executive to siptu steward shows that job creation does exist but needless to say, only when it suits the Dept of Enterprise, Trade & employment.
But, such appointments are also contrary to siptu rules –
Please refer to page 6 and 7 here - http://www.siptu.ie/media/media_14243_en.pdf
Indeed, a strange relationship exists between the unions, SIPTU and Unite and the Human resources personnel throughout Forfas, IDA and EI so strange that these closed shop agreements should warrant a thorough investigation.What is the point of having a trade union for workers if they are paid out of the pockets of your employer? What has Niall Donnellan, head of HR and investments and Mark Christal, Human Resources Manager of EI got to say for themselves?
The so-called urgent report to RTE is an absolute farce and is a ruse to get more funds for wasteful junkets and the overpaid management. It is nonsense to issue such a report when it can be so easily contradicted by the skills of poor management who unable to steer the agency through the choppy waters of the recession. Their ineptitude is well supported by the crony unions.
Perhaps it is becoming clearer to you, Mr Flannery, that appointments such as the siptu role attached show why the scientists don’t speak out. Who knows what they are up against….
Semi-state whistleblower
hr_appointed_role.pdf 0.06 Mb