tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41994959403706446942024-02-19T03:13:33.262+00:00A President's Blog by PJ RuddenThe diary of the President of Engineers Ireland for 2011-2012, PJ RuddenPJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-69274661729397935092016-12-09T15:55:00.002+00:002018-07-13T09:42:27.360+01:00Past Presidents of Engineers Ireland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">PAST PRESIDENTS<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">The
Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland</span></b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">Presidents</span></b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1835 Sir John
Fox Burgoyne<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1845 John Radcliffe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1846 Lt Col Harry D Jones<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1850 Sir Richard Griffith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1856 George W Hemans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1858 Michael Bernard Mullins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1861 Sir Richard Griffith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1863 Charles B Vignoles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1865 Robert Mallet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1867 William Anderson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1869 John Ball Greene<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1871 Bindon Blood Stoney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1873 Charles P Cotton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1875 Alexander McDonnell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1877 Robert Manning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1879 John Bailey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1881 Parke Neville<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1883 William Hemmingway Mills<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1885 Sir John A F Aspinall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1887 Sir John Purser Griffith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1889 Spencer Harty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1891 Thomas F Pigot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1893 John Chaloner Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1895 James Price<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1896 James Dillon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1898 Wesley W Wilson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1900 Edward Glover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1902 John H Ryan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1904 Robert Cochrane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1906 William Ross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1907 Joseph H Moore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1909 George Murray Ross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1911 Peter Chalmers Cowan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1913 William Collen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1915 Mark Ruddle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1917 Walter E Lilly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1918 John O Moynan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1919 Patrick H McCarthy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1920 Francis Bergin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1921 Joshua Hargrave<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1922 Pierce F Purcell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1924 James T Jackson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1926 Arthur Hassard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1927 Alfred D Delap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1929 Michael J Buckley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1930 Joseph Mallagh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1931 Stephen G Gallagher<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1932 Laurence J Kettle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1934 Nicholas O'Dwyer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1936 Frank S Rishworth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1938 Joseph Albert Ryan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1940 Henry N Walsh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1942 Thomas J Monaghan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1943 Thaddeus C Courtney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1944 Patrick Joseph Raftery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1945 Norman Albert Chance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1946 John Purser<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1947 Joseph MacDonald<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1948 Joseph Phelan Candy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1949 Michael A Hogan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1950 Thomas A McLaughlin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1951 William Ian Bloomer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1952 Patrick G Murphy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1953 Henry Nicholls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1954 Henry Nicholls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1955 Stephen W Farrington<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1956 Cornelius John Buckley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1957 Edward Joseph Francis Bourke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1958 Jeremiah A O'Riordan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1959 Vernon Dunbavin Harty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1960 Jeremiah Gerard Coffey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1961 Thomas A Simington<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1962 Thomas J O'Connor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1963 John Lane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1964 Thomas Kelly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1965 Richard E Cross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1966 Daniel Herlihy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1967 Patrick Raftery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1968 James C I Dooge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">Cumann
na nInnealtóirí (The Engineer's Association)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">Presidents</span></b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1928-1936 Micheal O Buachalla<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1937-1938 Felix E Hackett<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1939-1940 Nicholas O'Dwyer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1941-1943 D Coffey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1944 P Cormac<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1945 Stephen W Farrington<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1946 Thomas A McLaughlin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1947 D W O'Neill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1948 H N Walsh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1949 T S Duggan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1950 P G Murphy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1951 N A Chance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1952 G Lee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1953 T C Courtney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1954 M Maguire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1955 T P Flanagan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1956 R A Jackson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1956-1957 C Warren<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1957-1958 W H Prendergast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1957-1958 P J Byrne<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1959-1960 Thomas Simington<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1960-1961 T Kelly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1961-1962 P Byrne<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1962-1963 A J Litton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1963-1964 John B Barry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1964-1965 S Merry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1965-1966 J H Harbison<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1966-1967 J P O'Donnell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1967-1968 C P Blair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1968-1969 J Silke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">In 1969 The Institution of Civil
Engineers of Ireland and Cumann na nInnealtóirí amalgamated to form The
Institution of Engineers of Ireland</span></b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1969-1971 James C I Dooge, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1969-1971 John H Harbison, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1971-1972 Michael A Lynn, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1972-1973 Robert C Cuffe, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1973-1974 Hugh A Delap, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1974-1975 Finbar Callanan, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1975-1976 John D Barry, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1976-1977 John Donovan, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1977-1978 William Wright, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1978-1979 Lucas Collins, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1979-1980 Morgan Sheehy, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1980-1981 Liam O'Brien, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1981-1982 Peter O’Keeffe, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1982-1983 Eoin O’Cionna, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1983-1984 Patrick J Lynch, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1984-1985 Oliver Feighan, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1985-1986 Robert N Hayes, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1986-1987 John F Lang, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1987-1988 Michael O'Donnell, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1988-1989 Pierce T Piggot, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1989-1990 Brian N Sweeney, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1990-1991 John E Wallace, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1991-1992 Michael J Higgins, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1992-1993 Richard P Grainger, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1993-1994 William A Fitzgerald, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1994-1995 Patrick O Jennings, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1995-1996 John J Killeen, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1996-1997 Phil Callery, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1997-1998 Gordon S Millington, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; layout-grid-mode: line;">1998-1999 John A Kavanagh, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">1999-2000 Prof Jane B Grimson, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-font-family: Garamond;">2000-2001<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">Prof
Gerald Byrne, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo2; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-font-family: Garamond;">2001-2002<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">Liam
Connellan, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo3; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-font-family: Garamond;">2002-2003<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">Brian
Kearney, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-font-family: Garamond;">2003-2004<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">Peter
Langford, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo5; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-font-family: Garamond;">2004-2005<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">Paddy
Caffrey, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo6; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Garamond;">2005-2006<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Anne Butler, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">2006-2007 John McGowan, Chartered Engineer4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">2007-2008 <st1:personname w:st="on">Jack Golden</st1:personname>,
Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">2008-2009 Jim Browne, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">2009-2010 Chris Horn, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">2010-2011 Martin Lowery, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">2011-2012 PJ Rudden, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">2012-2013 Michael Phillips, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">2013-2014 John O’Dea, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">2014-2015 Regina Moran, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif";">2015-2016 Bill Grimson, Chartered Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "garamond" , serif;">2016-2017 Dermot Byrne, Chartered Engineer</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "garamond" , serif;">2017-2018 Kieran Feighan, Chartered Engineer</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "garamond" , serif;">2018-2019 Peter Quinn, Chartered Engineer</span></div>
PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-40256068255371549362012-05-25T10:10:00.001+01:002012-10-09T17:15:11.915+01:00Annual General Meeting and Goodbye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is my last blog following the 2012 Engineers Ireland AGM. Last night I was pleased and indeed proud to pass the President's chain of office to Michael Phillips Dublin City Engineer as our new President.</div>
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It's been a great year to be part of Engineers Ireland and to work with the great people there - John Director General and Directors Fionnuala, Margie, Aiden, John and John and their lovely staff who do us proud on a daily basis.</div>
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I wish Michael every success during the coming year supported by Vice Presidents Dr John O'Dea CEO Crospon and Regina Moran CEO Fujitsu. In his Inaugural Address last night he set the tone for a year of positive engagement with the members at home and especially abroad who may come home someday. He also exemplified the spirit of public service towards society that he and others in the local authority and public sector strive to deliver to us all on a 24/7 basis.</div>
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To all the readers and followers of this blog a heartfelt thank you for coming on this special 'journey of discovery' with me during the past 12 months.</div>
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Goodbye and may your God go with you!<br />
<br />
To read the full blog in pdf format click here: <a href="http://www.projectpartner.net/pjblog/A%20Year%20in%20the%20Life%20by%20PJ%20Rudden%20(President%20of%20Engineers%20Ireland%202011-2012).pdf" target="_blank">A Year the Life by PJ Rudden (President of Engineers Ireland 2011-2012).pdf</a></div>
</div>
PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-84686653835665513242012-05-24T17:16:00.001+01:002012-06-21T10:03:16.484+01:00Exploring the Burren in North Clare<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I spent a few days holidays hiking around the Burren just prior to the Engineers Ireland AGM on May 24th. I had never been there before and found it a terrific natural heritage resource with huge tourism potential. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NqQi8zKuGi0HTlLHNSNp7rwByQP4bJQS9GKjR6nL6_q3yEaBnbQA9jAb7kLcW-T7gk9mXp2Y1LxLJI6RVtXnj0CwdrROtFPUB9C5QmSqCWmjdm5bNCy6nwnCV7yPf0saI4OM2Wrcvoy7/s1600/Ailwee+Caves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NqQi8zKuGi0HTlLHNSNp7rwByQP4bJQS9GKjR6nL6_q3yEaBnbQA9jAb7kLcW-T7gk9mXp2Y1LxLJI6RVtXnj0CwdrROtFPUB9C5QmSqCWmjdm5bNCy6nwnCV7yPf0saI4OM2Wrcvoy7/s320/Ailwee+Caves.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PJ Rudden outside Aillwee Cave entrance</td></tr>
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This resource is also managed sensitively by the public bodies and all of the stakeholders involved. This is because they understand its heritage value and the degree to which a sustainable tourism product can co-exist to suit local people and the unique heritage in their midst.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PJ Rudden at Poulnabrone Dolmen<br />
on Burren Landscape</td></tr>
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The Aillwee Caves are the result of water erosion of weak limestone rock and is now one of the main tourist resorts as is also the Poulnabrone Dolmen both of which were attracting busloads of foreign tourists even in the month of May. In fact Aillwee Caves was only discovered in the 1940s by a local farmer who lost his dog into a hole in the ground chasing a rabbit. The farmer went looking for his dog through the opening in the ground and some hours later managed to find not only the dog but the natural heritage feature which is now known as the Aillwee Caves. This story was told by Lorraine Shannon one of the local guides who is an archaeologist.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lorraine Shannon local archaeologist and guide <br />
and PJ Rudden in Aillwee Caves</td></tr>
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Both the cave and the dolmen are beautifully illustrated on signs together with many hundreds of other interesting features. There is little doubt that the Burren in North Clare will probably become Ireland’s 3rd World Heritage Site after Skellig Michael and Brú na Bóinne.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flora at the Burren</td></tr>
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The limestone landscape is interspersed with a wide range of flora which are in abundance at this time of year. All in all a lovely way to spend my last few days as President. </div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-25087131681097559482012-05-24T16:15:00.000+01:002012-05-31T09:24:02.393+01:00Annual Conferring of Titles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Over the past few weeks I had a busy round of Conferrings of Titles around the Regions and finally in the Helix DCU last Friday. These Conferrings were to the Titles of Fellow, Chartered Engineer, Associate Engineer and Technician Engineer. Travelling with me in each case was Shirley McDonald our Membership Growth Manager who organised the events together with the local Region Chairmen. <br />
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<personname w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">PJ Rudden</span></personname><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"> President Engineers Ireland, Shirley McDonald Membership Growth Manager </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">and Professor Padraic O'Donoghue Chairman of the West Region</span></div>
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In March I had the first Conferring of Titles in the <a href="http://apresidentsblogbypjrudden.blogspot.com/2012/03/visiting-yeats-country-land-of-hearts.html" target="_blank">North West Region in Sligo</a>. Then in April we had the same ceremony in the <a href="http://apresidentsblogbypjrudden.blogspot.com/2012/04/presidential-address-and-conferring-of.html" target="_blank">Cork Region</a>. In May, we commenced in Limerick with the Thomond Region on May 1st followed by the West Region in Galway on May 9th and the Midland Region on May 14th. The National Conferring for the East coast and other regions were then held in the Helix DCU in Dublin on May 18th. I was delighted to see the family event that these conferrings have become where increasingly partners and children attend.<br />
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The National event included the annual award of Fellowships by Presidential Invitation. These were awarded for outstanding achievement in building national infrastructure, research leading to job creation, balanced regional development in addition to long service to Engineers Ireland. The seven recipients this year were Gerry Campbell of Shell, Andrew Cooke of EirGrid, Orla Feely of UCD, David Kirwan of Bord Gáis, Michael Loftus of CIT, Liam Madden of Xilinx and John Quinn of the North East Region.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President presents Fellowship of Engineers Ireland to Gerry Campbell <br />
Project Director of Shell E&P Ireland Ltd</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President presents Fellowship of Engineers Ireland to David Kirwan <br />
Managing Director of Bord Gáis Energy</td></tr>
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The event in each region also coincided with the AGM where the new Chairman and Committee for each Region were elected. I therefore witnessed the 'changing of the guard' in each region. In the Thomond Region the Chairmanship passed from Kieran Horgan (Consultant Engineer ex ESB) to Peter Tiernan (UL), in the West Region from Padraic O'Donoghue (NUIG) to Christy O'Sullivan (RPS) and in the Midlands Region from John Jordan (Wirtgen Ireland Ltd) to Damien Grennan (Offaly County Council).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President welcomes the new Thomond Region Chairman <br />
Peter Tiernan of University of Limerick</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President welcomes new West Region Chairman Christy O’Sullivan of RPS Group</td></tr>
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At each regional event, I was also pleased to present my <a href="http://www.engineersireland.ie/public/presidentialaddress2011-pjrudden.pdf" target="_blank">Presidential Address</a> which I originally gave in Clyde Road last September. The substance of the address had not changed but I updated it to give it greater relevance to each of the regions themselves in terms of my particular visits to that region during the years.</div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Eoin Greaney of Pavement Management Services being presented with Chartered Engineer title </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"> in Galway by President PJ Rudden and Chairman of the West Region Padraic O'Donoghue </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">- Eoin is joined by his wife and 3 children</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Tullamore President and Midlands Chairman presents Chartered Engineer title <br />
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I was able to strengthen the address also in terms where Government had heeded what I had said in September and had made policy changes in the meantime. This was obvious to me in two important policy areas.</div>
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1. I had called for the re-initiation of long term economic planning as we had in the early 1960s in time of TK Whitaker and other national greats who led us forward. </div>
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Only in recent weeks the new Secretary General in Dept of Finance John Moran announced that a new economic unit was being set up to better plan not only our economic recovery but to look beyond that phase of national development in the future. John Moran had recently been recruited into the public service from the private sector where among other things he ran a series of juice bars in the South of France. He was thus bringing lateral thinking and a welcome business acumen to the work of Government. He also represents a shift from the past less regulated thinking that practically brought the country to its knees. Well done to Minister Noonan who appointed him and to Minister Howlin who appointed a man of similar background and calibre in Robert Watt as Secretary General in the new Dept of Public Expenditure and Reform.</div>
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2. In Education I called for a new 'joined up thinking' between primary and secondary education in all subjects but particularly in Maths teaching and learning. </div>
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The new Junior Cycle reform agenda being planned by Minister Quinn includes for reconfiguring that transition between 5th and 6th class in Primary school and 1st year in Secondary school. Previously as we pointed out in our 2010 Maths and Science Report there is no 'end of school assessment or report card' at the end of Primary to give any guidance to the secondary teachers on their new pupils which I found to be odd in the extreme and not resource efficient in terms of teaching and learning. Happily the new Junior Cycle curriculum 'Innovation and Identity' recognises this failing and seeks to correct it. Increasingly it is becoming obvious that it is at Junior Cycle that most of the issue with Maths learning exists as the unqualified Maths teachers are usually sent into this cycle and those better qualified sent into the Leaving Cert classes. The sooner the better this whole Maths situation gets rectified as it will take at least a generation for the new learning processes to embed.</div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-66075494445161689142012-05-24T14:42:00.000+01:002012-05-28T11:24:43.072+01:00Visit to Limerick IT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Limerick Institute of Technology is in fact in Cratloe in County Clare north of the new Limerick Tunnel. I discovered this on a recent visit to the college organised by Thomond Region Committee Member Maria Kyne who is Head of School Built Environment.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right – Seamus O’Sullivan (Lecturer), James Collins (Head of Department Built Environment Management), Paschal Meehan (Head of School Science, Engineering and IT), PJ Rudden President of Engineers Ireland, Maria Kyne (Head of School Built Environment), Pat Gill (Head of Department Construction and Civil Engineering), James Greenslade (Acting Head of Department Electrical and Electronic Engineering).</td></tr>
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I met Maria and her colleague Paschal Meehan Head of School Science, Engineering and IT who kindly gave me a tour of the college where I met both staff and students. Indeed I was also glad to meet Seamus O'Sullivan and Gerry Ryan both former classmates of mine in UCD and both now lecturing at the college. Seamus was Limerick City Engineer for a period of major infrastructural development in the City prior to taking up a lecturing role at Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7lLRRheoYMaxFAGne1ebdnE2bNFdT-aZlIxhkqnZ3ynzgVpFzms1yOXpbXTeRpORe2l6JNKTdaF4-WqLxxfEG5Wg3Ez2JZmmRwtoKDr96nIWtSXLGvePn0Gs9cFc6luvSrvQnyAOBERt/s1600/10+photo+mod+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7lLRRheoYMaxFAGne1ebdnE2bNFdT-aZlIxhkqnZ3ynzgVpFzms1yOXpbXTeRpORe2l6JNKTdaF4-WqLxxfEG5Wg3Ez2JZmmRwtoKDr96nIWtSXLGvePn0Gs9cFc6luvSrvQnyAOBERt/s320/10+photo+mod+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paschal Meehan in the Electronics Laboratory with PJ Rudden</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria Kyne, PJ Rudden and Paschal Meehan in Solar Energy Laboratory</td></tr>
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LIT specialise in civil mechanical and electrical engineering in addition to construction management studies. Both areas that are currently growing in the college are electronics and the whole area of studio sound and acoustics for music and theatre events which I visited to view some dress rehearsals. Firstly I toured the surveying, motor engineering and electrical engineering depts meeting various staff members and students.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gerard Meagher (Lecturer) and PJ Rudden President of Engineers Ireland<br />
in the Music Media and Performance Technology Department</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvQ_EsJd8TwqGjS-GdEVQnuI89lNYI14Vi4Vnc2-Y0XMnvXDfBrnc64RA5Py18enGIcWwO2kcH8r5WB41o63Vq3OHjFg75M-2IXHPqUQ0ZWz3w5Bc1FlfMuQDASuFvLJEq0gk5ZcRvO8w/s1600/11+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvQ_EsJd8TwqGjS-GdEVQnuI89lNYI14Vi4Vnc2-Y0XMnvXDfBrnc64RA5Py18enGIcWwO2kcH8r5WB41o63Vq3OHjFg75M-2IXHPqUQ0ZWz3w5Bc1FlfMuQDASuFvLJEq0gk5ZcRvO8w/s320/11+photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria Kyne and Paschal Meehan in the Motor Engineering workshop with PJ Rudden</td></tr>
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I then visited some of the music centres where students at various stages were testing their sound and acoustic talents in advance of gaining employment in radio TV stage and screen.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PJ Rudden President of Engineers Ireland and Peter Diffley (technician)<br />
in the LIT Millennium Theatre</td></tr>
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I was brought into the LIT Millennium Theatre where I was shown the equipment used to mix the sound and music effects of a full production. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrF_RoQ2GtPhLNbuIMfkgBT37MI0GJ3bRFAtZ7W0Lu928OMnQu00YqqZDe_wASp6uDWIQtNEdFyeorJJPGFxtLLlE-f6nigghyphenhyphenJwEzJkZSbKTDwQzaNm4UynRF7uXZnMcJ2UqcV2EgC6Si/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrF_RoQ2GtPhLNbuIMfkgBT37MI0GJ3bRFAtZ7W0Lu928OMnQu00YqqZDe_wASp6uDWIQtNEdFyeorJJPGFxtLLlE-f6nigghyphenhyphenJwEzJkZSbKTDwQzaNm4UynRF7uXZnMcJ2UqcV2EgC6Si/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ger Hartigan and PJ Rudden President of Engineers Ireland<br />
in the Surveying Department</td></tr>
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I left LIT realising that every IT has its own set of specialist areas and service specific areas of the economy. LIT graduates have project management skills for construction and logistics management in industry generally and also specialise in producing graduates who are the engineers that make stage and screen events happen in Ireland and internationally wherever they go.</div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-3850668701455877772012-05-24T12:27:00.002+01:002012-05-28T15:40:31.494+01:00Cuairt ar An Roth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Cúpla miosa ó shin, cuir me cuart ar An Roth I gCumann Innealtoirí na hÉireann. Bhí Cathaoirleach An Roth an Doctúir Fionn O Muircheartaigh ina gceannais ag an uair sin.</div>
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Ins an Céad Oráid mar Uachtaráin Mi Bealtaine seo caite, deir mé go bhfuil suim agam sa Gaeilge agus ag an abhar sin déanfadh mé mo dhicheall freastal ar cuart amháin no beidir faoi dhó i rith mo bhlian as Uachtaráin.</div>
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Freastal mé ar leacht Matt Hussey iar-cheannaire eolaíochta i DIT ar “An Chichipéad Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta”. Bhí slua reasúnta i labhair agus roinnt daoine eile ar an líne ríomhaire ina theach no oifig fhéin. Leacht ana suimiúil a bhí ann a chuir comhtheacs ar stair an eolaíochta and teicneolaíocta and an ceangail ata idir an dá ábhair.</div>
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Cloisimid faoi na Eolaí agus na Innealtoirí cailiúil i rith na céadta mar shampla. Copernicus, Lavoisier, Laplace, Faraday, Brunel, Stephanson, Volta, Boyle, Hamilton, Boole and na céadta eile. Cloisimid freisin ar an éifeacht mór a bhí ag baint leis na fionnachtáin agus na claichlú a rinne siad ar caighdeán beatha na ndaoine ar fad an domhain. Fuair me fochlóir nua ar na céadta tearma teicneolaíocta as Gaeilge. Bhí an leacht abhartha don saol ata inniu ann agus go háirithe ar an gearroráid a bhi agamsa don Roth. Freisin bhí pictiurí ana suiliúil ag Matt mar shampla - An Bealach na Bo Finna (The Milky Way phenomenon in outerspace) nach chonaic mé riamh roimhe sin.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBNU61pF_CRl_qYmFNx5md_8yZ3M4IanYfvB-ENBrn9UlTaW5TQMhio0CQT8S_DUdwrWwfzLKz6wN8oid1_lQzTF8dU56YoPVEb-omHX2OqtfiljF6A4b-eq8UFjtASXe4QP9F7o-rUGX/s1600/220px-IKBrunelChains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBNU61pF_CRl_qYmFNx5md_8yZ3M4IanYfvB-ENBrn9UlTaW5TQMhio0CQT8S_DUdwrWwfzLKz6wN8oid1_lQzTF8dU56YoPVEb-omHX2OqtfiljF6A4b-eq8UFjtASXe4QP9F7o-rUGX/s320/220px-IKBrunelChains.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isambard Kingdom Brunel</td></tr>
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<span class="fn"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Robert Boyle</span></span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"></span></div>
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Seo é an oráid beag a rinne mé fhéin ar an oiche sin tas éis leacht Matt Hussey. </div>
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Anuraidh i mí Bealtaine 2011 bhí me tofa mar Uachtaráin ar Cumann Innealtorí na hEireann. Is mór an ónóir domsa bheith pairteach sna gluais mór naisiúnta seo le cathair a ghabháil do tir le fás agus forbairt a áthbheochaint and fostaíthocht a leathniú sna toinscail teicneolaíochta.</div>
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Cad is fath don Chumann san lá ata inniu ann? Bhuil is guth náisiúnta fíor nó udarach é ar son an gairm innealtóireacht uilig san Éirinn. Ta fómhór an fás eacnanaíochta atá ar bun na laethanta seo ag tarlú ins na fiortair fearma, an ríomhaireacht, bith-theicneolaíocht and ins an tionscail fuinneamh.</div>
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De réir na meáin cumasáide ta an fás agus an forbairt seo ag teacht ón Eolaíocht amháin. Ta sé sin beagnach ceart! Is as na Tionscail Innealltóireachta atá na jobanna a chruthnú!! Tá an Eolaíocht ceart go leor ach is an Eolaíocht agus an Maitimatic bunaithe ar an Innealtóireacht. Tá na hInnealtóirí ag chruthú na jobanna sin mar is an Innealtóireacht a deanann an Eolaíocht ina fiontar trachtála ar an gceád dul síos. Níl sé sin áisúil a rá áfach!</div>
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Tá Comairle an Chumann ag obair ana dícheallach an bliain seo! Tá muid ag iarradh proifil an Innealtóir Cairte no Gairmúil (CEng) a chur chun tosaigh leis an fogra ar an teilifis ar RTE, SKY agus na meáin mar sin de.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dún Duchathaoir Arann</td></tr>
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Taimid tar éis na Riallacha Ballraíochta a airdú conus go mbeadh Céim Mhaistir nó comhbhrí ag gach éinne a bhuil CEng á lorg. Freisin tá na heolaí imshaolach nó na gairm nach bhuil céim innealltóireach acu ach go cinnte tá said ag obair ar scéimanna innealltoíreachta tabhartach. Da bhár sin anois tá siad in ann an MIEI a ghnothaigh or a baint amach anois freisin.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Criunniú na mBád</td></tr>
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Ta mé tar eis cuart a gabháil ar beagnach gach coláiste triú leibhéil agus beagnach gach fiontar taighde in Eirinn mar shampla Institiuid Tyndall I Corchaigh agus Institiuid Nasiúnta na Mara I nGaillimh agus na cúigead roinn innealtóireachta I gColaiste Ollscoil Blath Cliath. Sé an spreagadh a bhí agam ná tabhair chun súntais conas atá Oideachais ina síol don Fiontar agus ina ndhiaidh sin, ina síol an Fhostaiocht a leathrú. Se an ábhair a bhí ar mo Oráid Uachtaráin ná ‘Building a Sustainable Recovery’ (Téarnamh Eachamíocht a Athbeochaint).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0qvlD3JyWZqw4ebF2F4r_k0pxnGvmgClIhYCydyNWgFlk7wSPNcysyeGkMjqWVnEIbqSi9rpWfRhbQ3bq7tKfUiGD5D8pUDVkz11J7rYtqMF6V3_45GNo_TLNOkzMMftTx2bXhyJI1Dw/s1600/photo+(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0qvlD3JyWZqw4ebF2F4r_k0pxnGvmgClIhYCydyNWgFlk7wSPNcysyeGkMjqWVnEIbqSi9rpWfRhbQ3bq7tKfUiGD5D8pUDVkz11J7rYtqMF6V3_45GNo_TLNOkzMMftTx2bXhyJI1Dw/s320/photo+(8).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ar an Cuan Nua i Cill Rónáin bhí An Ollamh Pádraic MacDonnacha NUIG, <br />
Padraig Ó Rodáin Uachtarán Chumann Innealtóirí na nEireann <br />
agus Cathy Ní Ghoill Bainisteoir Comharchumann Forbatha Arann</td></tr>
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Freisin tá mé ag chur cuart ar sceimanna bonneagar mar shampla bhi me ag an Droichead Nua Mizen in iarthar Chorcaigh i mhí Lunasa, ag Tullán Luimhnigh I mí Feabhra, ag Sceim Draenála i gCeatharlach in Mí Eanair, go hArainn i Chuan na Gaillime I Mí Bealtaine. Chuaigh mé go Chill Ronáin leis an cuan nua i Cill Ronáin a fheiceáil in éineacht le Chomhairchumann Arann agus an Bainisteoir iontach sin Cathy Ní Ghoill atá ar bhall Bord Udarás na Gaeltachta freisin. Bhí me ina comhairleoir don Chomharchumann de bhliain ó sin ar scéim nua athcusála a chur ar bun. Sin an gealltanais a rinne me anuraidh and sin a rinne mé - le cathair a tharraing do na hInnealtoiri and na daoine sna ceantair eagsúla timpeall na tíre.</div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-29493664054734580312012-05-21T17:11:00.000+01:002012-05-24T10:16:37.192+01:00Opening World Congress on Water Climate and Energy in Dublin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I had the pleasure of opening the World Congress on Water Climate and Energy in the Dublin Convention Centre together with Irish MEP Mairéad McGuinness and Mr Paul Reiter Executive Director of the International Water Association (IWA). The reason I was asked to do this was that Engineers Ireland is the National Governing Body for the IWA who organised the conference. It was last held in Dublin in 1992. The conference running for 4 days was attended by 1,200 delegates from all over the world with many exotic examples of traditional forms of dress and headgear on display.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used the opportunity to update the Congress in the new Irish Government initiative on Irish Water and to set this development in the context of European Water Policy generally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Water is the key to life we know. It is also an increasing challenge to preserve it as a crucial resource for humanity - not least because the world population continues to grow and yet we cannot make more water! To further increase the challenge, water tends to be in abundance where most people generally do not live. This is true of the world and it's equally true in Ireland. Wars have been fought over access to water which is no surprise as humans can live for a month without food but will die in less than a week without water. Indeed the Vice President of the World Bank was heard to say in 1995 that 'many of the wars in this century were about oil but those of the next century will be over water!' Whether water will start wars or not we are not sure but we ARE sure that with the world population still growing that water will become an ever scarcer resource to be managed and indeed cared for.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PJ Rudden President of Engineers Ireland and Ray Earle Congress Chairman</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ireland generally has good air and water quality. In addition, energy intensity or energy use per unit of GDP is also the lowest among OECD countries. However despite this positive progress the current economic climate in Ireland represents a challenge for maintaining environmental commitments. It also presents opportunities to reassess and reform those policies that are both economically costly and environmentally damaging - like not charging households for water usage, tolerating internationally high leakage rates from our water networks and sending more waste to landfill than is necessary when cleaner alternatives like recycling and energy recovery exist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I might even say that there's nothing more powerful to effect real change in society than a good crisis. So let's not waste a good crisis and fix what is broken in our economy. That includes the management of our Water Resources.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore this year as part of our economic recovery plans we are about to oversee a transformation of the Irish water industry. The Government here have concluded that a new national public utility as part of an existing utility Bord Gais offers the best opportunity to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of water service delivery, provide access to new funding sources and to improve strategic planning and accountability.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new utility model to be called Irish Water or perhaps in Gaelic 'Uisce Eireann' will replace the historical role of 34 existing local authorities in this regard. This is seen as essential structural reform to deliver maximum efficiency in our water infrastructure and also because we had no funding model as Ireland does not meter or charge for water to domestic consumers. Currently only commercial and industrial customers are metered by the local authorities. Indeed thankfully it was made a condition of our IMF financial bailout that in future we charge all of our consumers for the public water that they use. A national metering programme will therefore soon commence which in time will fund a new investment programme to modernise and upgrade our water services based on use related charges.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hosting a group of delegates from the World Congress on Water Climate and Energy to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Engineers Ireland HQ in Dublin. Back Row: Martin Nixon Sydney, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Professor Michael Bruen UCD, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jerry Grant RPS </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Front Row: Ray Earle </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Congress Chairman, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PJ Rudden </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Engineers Ireland, Roisin Bradford UCD </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr Glen Daigger President of International Water Association</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While there is some political opposition to this proposal I want to say here that Engineers Ireland fully support the Government's action, including the introduction of water charges on domestic dwellings. This not only makes economic sense - it also makes good environmental sense in terms of the “polluter pays” principle as an incentive to conserve the finite resource that is water. Householders currently pay for every other utility like electricity gas and communications so why not also for water on a 'pay by use' system. It should not however have taken an economic crisis in Ireland for us to come to our senses in this regard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ireland has also made very good progress on the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive requiring Member States to protect and restore the quality of waters on a river catchment basis. In Ireland River Basin Management Plans for each of the 7 river basin districts have been adopted. The plans set out the current status of our waters, the objectives to be achieved by 2015 and a programme of measures in order to achieve those objectives. Water pollution from septic tanks and other on-site wastewater treatment systems is also being addressed through the introduction of legislation for their inspection and performance monitoring. This we support also in terms of Minister Hogan’s proposal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore in Ireland despite our recent economic difficulties we remain optimistic that by adopting the right economic, social and environmental responses that we as a country, are on our way back to prosperity but hopefully a more equitable and more sustainable form than we experienced before. We remain fixed on maintaining our membership in a strong Europe which has been the bedrock of our recent environmental sustainability. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We remain committed to the principles of the Europe 2020 Strategy in terms of its five ever ambitious objectives on employment, innovation, education, social inclusion and climate/energy. Most relevant of the 7 Flagship Initiatives is Resource Efficiency in our economies which have a special relevance to Water, Climate and Energy. We expect this resource efficiency to be a creator of major economic opportunities in each of our sectors and of improving productivity. A resource efficient Europe will deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth but these objectives must now be tempered by the new rules of economic governance applied by the EU Stability Pact Treaty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In terms of our future approach to Water we very much look forward to the EU Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources to be published later this year. This will build on the progress made with the EU Water Framework Directive and further consolidate our water framework legislation. It will ensure a sustainable balance between water demand and supply and the natural ecosystems they depend on.</span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-3178334936597341582012-05-21T15:07:00.000+01:002012-05-21T15:16:18.377+01:00Visit to Kilronan Harbour and Innishmore on Aran Islands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past few weeks I completed my round of Presidents Visits nationally to Infrastructure Projects by flying to the Aran Islands to view the recently completed Kilronan Harbour on Innishmore.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kilronan Harbour under construction with breakwaters in the foreground (2009)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flying with me was the Chairman of the West Region, Padraic O'Donoghue Professor of Civil Engineering at NUIG, Consultant Joe Murphy of Punch Consulting who designed the harbour and Regional Director Pat Nestor of BAM Contractors who built it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were met by Kevin Finn Senior Marine Engineer Galway County Council and by Cathy Ní Ghoill Bainisteoir of Comharchumann Forbartha Árann (Manager of Innishmore Co-op) and Board Member on Údarás na Gaeltachta. Cathy also chaired the island's own Harbour Committee who were key stakeholders in the planning design and construction of the harbour by Galway County Council.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the new harbour quay Padraic O'Donoghue, Pat Nestor, Joe Murphy, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kilronan Harbour costing some €40million is the largest project completed on an offshore island in the history of the state. It is a magnificent new facility that has and will continue to transform transport services to and from for islanders and tourists alike in addition to providing for the fishing and cargo industry also.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The harbour required construction of a 550m long breakwater to protect it from the Atlantic swell in Galway Bay. Separate berthing facilities were required for ferries, fishing vessels, cargo boats and the RNLI Aran Lifeboat in addition to car parking facilities to accommodate all harbour users.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">On new breakwaters with existing pier, ferries and Aran Lifeboat in background </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Padraic O'Donoghue, <personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</personname> and Cathy Ní Ghoill</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we were on Innishmore we also viewed a number of very interesting waste, energy, childcare, assisted living and amenity projects all proposed and built by the Comharchumann with funding from the various public agencies. They are all very impressive and rival similar projects anywhere on the mainland in Ireland. Cathy as Co-op Manager together with her deputy Geraldine and staff member Breda is responsible for all of them in terms of furthering community development on the island.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The waste recycling project set up by Timpealleacht na nOileán (now known as Athcursala Árann Teoranta) is one of the few national composting projects fully licensed by the Dept of Agriculture and Food under the EU Animal Byproducts Directive. Managed by Gerry Mullin who works for the Co-op recycling company, the depot is thus capable of recycling all of the catering waste from the restaurants on Inis Mór (there are similar facilities on Inis Meáin and Inis Oirr) in addition to the household food waste from the houses there. This would put many of our cities and towns in Ireland to shame where the 'brown waste bin' for food waste does not yet have the penetration levels that it should at this stage of our national development.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Athcursála Arann recycling depot, Engineers Ireland visiting group <br />with Gerry Mullin Depot Manager</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cathy also showed us the Automatic Diesel Refuelling Depot, the Retirement Home and the Island Crèche. The use and storage of petrol on the island is forbidden under safety regulations so all cars on the island use only diesel - except for the 6 electric cars recently supplied to the islanders by SEAI and Electric Ireland as a pilot scheme to test the cars in the harsh Atlantic environment!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The very colourful two storey 6-roomed architect designed crèche would certainly be the envy of most childcare communities in Ireland. Also the new playground in Kilronan is the largest and most colourful amenity I've seen anywhere in Ireland in terms of size, design and sheer range of outdoor equipment to cater for all ages from 3 to 17 year olds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">In new Kilronan Community Playground at back Padraic O'Donoghue and Pat Nestor </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From all of the above one might think that the population of the Aran Islands is growing quickly. It's not unfortunately but it’s not falling either so there is every hope that all of these new amenities might encourage young families to stay. Aran is a unique national heritage and needs all of these supports to make life closer to the relative comforts of the mainland.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlLl7Gljv8_4ht7KJWf1ciMz6Vo_v8O3SD_uPI60KoCECyrT43Ng8Zfvq3rm6X_WrxUcjmdRHflYAoorzNbR25V-7OKZ0ZoTDi9lkERuteouBwEbE4wLdC1hdxAlaNOhBmjF2cbAY4dox/s1600/photo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlLl7Gljv8_4ht7KJWf1ciMz6Vo_v8O3SD_uPI60KoCECyrT43Ng8Zfvq3rm6X_WrxUcjmdRHflYAoorzNbR25V-7OKZ0ZoTDi9lkERuteouBwEbE4wLdC1hdxAlaNOhBmjF2cbAY4dox/s320/photo+7.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">In new harbour car park with Kevin Finn Senior Marine Engineer Galway County Council</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even convincing the tourists who come to the prehistoric fort Dun Aonghusa to stay overnight can be difficult and yet there can be no tourism industry on Aran unless we regrow a new young vibrant community there.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlV96VzqQAAnlckgCBVUKAYIU1zmWgidQMdLJuSWA4RAkv0D_EUUSlW9sOb2QUitzDtIPde7IAd6kCBjmce4jNudxwHO_iO_NAgBicW8_47N9Pxyw1tutfYrffqUDZ_v3adMVN_T0ARRV/s1600/dunaonghus-aerial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlV96VzqQAAnlckgCBVUKAYIU1zmWgidQMdLJuSWA4RAkv0D_EUUSlW9sOb2QUitzDtIPde7IAd6kCBjmce4jNudxwHO_iO_NAgBicW8_47N9Pxyw1tutfYrffqUDZ_v3adMVN_T0ARRV/s320/dunaonghus-aerial.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View of Dun Aonghusa</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.galway.net/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.galway.net</span></a></td></tr>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great credit is due to former Minister Eamon O'Cuiv over the past 10 years who pushed and funded most of the infrastructure we saw, to Galway County Council and to Comharchumann Arann for their collective foresight to keep the Aran Islands alive.</span></div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-54735262039360893672012-05-18T15:43:00.000+01:002012-05-21T10:35:07.783+01:00Visit to Corrib Project in Mayo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The largest project currently under construction in Ireland is the Corrib Project in Mayo led by Shell E & P Ireland Ltd (SEPIL) partnered also by Statoil and Vermillion - collectively called the Corrib Gas Partners.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This project at peak production will supply 60% of the nation's natural gas and overall will contribute €6billion to Ireland's GDP over its lifespan according to Goodbody Economic Consultants commissioned by Shell. Over the next three years the project will invest €400million in Mayo sustaining the equivalent of 382 full time jobs and 450 indirect jobs.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIK2lK3_r4oC7_mHngD5qsckM8qNNBDeHj7LOy9ZYwfLqDNeQrgi5uur5NndhYnCbwAW1H3aIk_piZbkSqE2r3qRefuce9t6VF2p8bA4Ueyb11ECtDcV-O9gVN47c8_MlxOU9v6WrYBqR/s1600/Corrib+Gas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIK2lK3_r4oC7_mHngD5qsckM8qNNBDeHj7LOy9ZYwfLqDNeQrgi5uur5NndhYnCbwAW1H3aIk_piZbkSqE2r3qRefuce9t6VF2p8bA4Ueyb11ECtDcV-O9gVN47c8_MlxOU9v6WrYBqR/s320/Corrib+Gas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Corrib Development Project</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was therefore very pleased to lead an Engineers Ireland visit to the site supported also by The Energy Institute, IBEC and Mayo County Council. The visit was kindly organised by our West Region chairman Professor Padraic O'Donoghue of NUIG and attended also by Engineers Ireland Director General John Power and Dept of Communications Energy and Natural Resources Chief Technical Adviser Bob Hanna.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56hxz_fGs1ebkVhGgGqnuLtV9v1yzhiYfOsjmWukLuXrv-cI9fREzr_KOvvlsTVafo8bE3YC0E_9Tpk7qa5xAwcZY_sPYw9jsEiEcyP0as5Z_xHeb52-xZ829AiJmDByLWpkrTS_AuoD-/s1600/Engineers+Ireland+group+on+site+8+May+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56hxz_fGs1ebkVhGgGqnuLtV9v1yzhiYfOsjmWukLuXrv-cI9fREzr_KOvvlsTVafo8bE3YC0E_9Tpk7qa5xAwcZY_sPYw9jsEiEcyP0as5Z_xHeb52-xZ829AiJmDByLWpkrTS_AuoD-/s320/Engineers+Ireland+group+on+site+8+May+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Seated from left to right: Neil O'Carroll (MD of Conoco Philips), Chair of IBEC Energy Policy Committee; Prof Pádraic O'Donoghue (NUIG), Chairman of Western Regional Branch of EI; Brendan Butler, Corrib Deputy Project Director, Shell E&P Ireland Limited; PJ Rudden, President of Engineers Ireland; John Power, Director General, Engineers Ireland; Gerry Campbell, Corrib Project Director, Shell E&P Ireland Limited; Erik O'Donovan, IBEC; David Taylor, Chairman of the Energy Institute. Standing, from left: Brendan Mulligan (Údarás na Gaeltachta), Western Regional Branch of EI; Neil Walker, IBEC, Energy Policy Committee; Padraic Fogarty (Tobin Engineering), Western Branch of EI; Wolfgang Probst, Operations Manager, Shell E& P Ireland Limited; Pat McHale, Mayo County Council; Simon Stanton, Commercial Manager, Shell E&P Ireland Limited; Pat Downes, Director of Bord na Móna; Bob Hanna, Chief Technical Advisor, DCENR; Muredach Tuffy (Mayo County Council), Western Regional Branch of Engineers Ireland</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The visit was hosted by Gerry Campbell SEPIL Project Director responsible for planning construction and commissioning of the project. Gerry was assisted by his colleagues Brendan Butler, Simon Stanton and Wolfgang Probst. We firstly visited Bellanaboy Gas Terminal and then the Aughoose Tunnelling Compound where construction is well advanced. The Terminal, Offshore Pipeline and subsea wells are complete; only the 8.3km long Onshore Pipeline now remains to be constructed. Approximately 4.9km of the Onshore Pipeline will be installed within a 4.2m diameter tunnel under Sruwaddacon Bay. Tunnelling will start at Aughoose in late 2012 and it is expected that the tunnel will be completed in approximately 15 months. Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are often named – the Corrib TBM is named Fionnuala after one of the Children of Lír - Sruwaddacon Bay features in this famous Irish legend. It is anticipated that the Corrib Onshore Pipeline will be completed by late 2014 when ‘First Gas’ will arrive onshore.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGd8OdaGNRygJoNRilRt-yuVHZEbNYHg9dKZZsoh1-3hm_wMQRabUbY8NozkPIKrduK_tcsAK4ncVm_wzDGv9L_SBO8vrF5-rVM6T1TqyPljyAQpKpS3-r4dcW5s3bdSHYRra5FcFX-2K9/s1600/Rossport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGd8OdaGNRygJoNRilRt-yuVHZEbNYHg9dKZZsoh1-3hm_wMQRabUbY8NozkPIKrduK_tcsAK4ncVm_wzDGv9L_SBO8vrF5-rVM6T1TqyPljyAQpKpS3-r4dcW5s3bdSHYRra5FcFX-2K9/s320/Rossport.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Broadhaven Bay leading into Sruwaddacon Bay on the right</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a long and difficult and indeed contentious project over the past 12 years. It is however very obvious to all visitors that there is a genuine commitment to complete the project to the highest safety standards and in partnership with the local community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will also be built fully in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), An Bord Pleanála and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On both sites we visited, the high standard of safety was clear at every turn as the complexity of construction and operational features were explained to us by Shell personnel. The site has a fantastic safety record when one considers the level of activity in a relatively confined area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We wish the project well to completion.</span></div>
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</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-48705033364302826532012-05-17T12:03:00.001+01:002012-05-18T10:56:40.875+01:00Visit to Donegal Region and Letterkenny IT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">A week before the Annual Conference I visited the Donegal
Region. There I met Region Chairman Rodney McDermott, Eleanor Diver Secretary
and Michael Carr Treasurer together with Past Chairman William Diver. Eleanor
kindly organised a very full day for me at Letterkenny IT starting with meeting
President Paul Hannigan and Head of Development John Andy Bonar to discuss
development potential in the region. I also met Denis McFadden Head of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Engineering</st1:placename></st1:place>, Dr Jim Morrison Head of
Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Anne Bonar Head of Department of
Civil Engineering and Construction.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllfEpkTAgnFzvrilc_GQskjgSqoz8KjW0vtIw5WPTc5KUhuXMRlZDn3eyIPo7Z8ZX66Al1UZxmxYzBHphux3PMFpUTFjaDB7K1cjUBj21Ri9lU157Y_zqJGGsWBIsai808Sp88ZpCq97v/s1600/LYIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllfEpkTAgnFzvrilc_GQskjgSqoz8KjW0vtIw5WPTc5KUhuXMRlZDn3eyIPo7Z8ZX66Al1UZxmxYzBHphux3PMFpUTFjaDB7K1cjUBj21Ri9lU157Y_zqJGGsWBIsai808Sp88ZpCq97v/s1600/LYIT.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">LYIT Campus, Letterkenny</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">With President Paul Hannigan we discussed how LYIT could
grow as a catalyst for future development of the region. The two main strengths
which Donegal has is its tourism and its ocean resources - yes fishing as
always but also its wind, wave and tidal power resources around the coast. LYIT
already has a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Tourism</st1:placename></st1:place> in Killybegs
where the potential for further enterprise is being explored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7lYry7RWna4K47hhNMcYwDAFF3H1i0RMbCUPjHA0Q58tCSYijhZQBbrexLXTQEktGbiwsq8wBe2ccQ3EWcIzKKglP03rgGXVTd8zwg-H8WdpcXeaToZiqq_kN2vpuKoMkzeQL0Le4B7A/s1600/1.+LYIT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7lYry7RWna4K47hhNMcYwDAFF3H1i0RMbCUPjHA0Q58tCSYijhZQBbrexLXTQEktGbiwsq8wBe2ccQ3EWcIzKKglP03rgGXVTd8zwg-H8WdpcXeaToZiqq_kN2vpuKoMkzeQL0Le4B7A/s320/1.+LYIT.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><st1:personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</st1:personname> President of Engineers <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region> with
Paul Hannigan <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">President of
Letterkenny Institute of Technology</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I also met the Donegal County Manager <st1:personname w:st="on">Seamus
Neely </st1:personname>who too is ambitious for further development of the
county in terms of the diversity of its resources and the talent of its people.
Donegal County Council has also been central in implementation of the new EU
Water Framework Directive in terms of national leadership and cross border
development in river basin district (RBD) management and therefore has an
important role to play with the new Irish Water utility. It seems to me that the
better management of our water resources both on and offshore will be a key
lever in our national recovery in terms of resource efficiency, new enterprise
and jobs. I also met Donal Casey who is responsible for RBD plan development
and implementation for the Council.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbli0pTHFHnWj5m5n0UOrvSOJsrp6mGstzMltRKWjJ_OSpa4tNzpZXPuXgpwWQ0mUj12qtsv_Q-5k2KW5q1f8IR-bo0SVUCDRJD0YpPbYER0Zk3WmX4M-Xeq4rjKvr40DxLSDn2nmRqEk7/s1600/3.+LYIT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbli0pTHFHnWj5m5n0UOrvSOJsrp6mGstzMltRKWjJ_OSpa4tNzpZXPuXgpwWQ0mUj12qtsv_Q-5k2KW5q1f8IR-bo0SVUCDRJD0YpPbYER0Zk3WmX4M-Xeq4rjKvr40DxLSDn2nmRqEk7/s320/3.+LYIT.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Group of students in LY IT
with Anne Bonar Head of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype>
<br /> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Civil Engineering</st1:placename></st1:place> and
Construction, Eleanor Diver Lecturer in LYIT <br />and PJ Rudden President of
Engineers Ireland</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">When in Letterkenny I visited the local RPS office under
Director <st1:personname w:st="on">Donal Doyle</st1:personname>. Donal together
with senior staff <st1:personname w:st="on">Angela McGinley</st1:personname>
and Debbie Nesbitt joined a social evening in Letterkenny organised by the
Donegal Region. There I was happy to meet former UCD classmate Peadar MacRory
who is Senior Engineer with Donegal County Council on the construction of the
new Letterkenny Wastewater Treatment Plant.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Dr Jim Morrison Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering LYIT, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Eleanor Diver Secretary of Donegal Region Engineers <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">and PJ Rudden President of Engineers <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">As I left Donegal through the relatively new national
primary roads to the south past Donegal town and Ballyshannon I was struck by
how the new infrastructure has transformed access to and from Donegal. I was
again struck too by the stunning beauty of Barnesmore Gap with its stormy
streams of water shedding down the valley like torrents on both sides of the
road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbmhfIyvPcPfS-fsYdIxX4T0a7-mI8vVGn48H3FL3CJZyX4M9CsK6-IScM3y9MSvCeOUpci4HZpK3cbBCL3cgAEZkhw_gC-eR14oUQycABYWSDctxnooTIsmZHpRHNAE0cbW01T1jc8I0/s1600/4+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbmhfIyvPcPfS-fsYdIxX4T0a7-mI8vVGn48H3FL3CJZyX4M9CsK6-IScM3y9MSvCeOUpci4HZpK3cbBCL3cgAEZkhw_gC-eR14oUQycABYWSDctxnooTIsmZHpRHNAE0cbW01T1jc8I0/s320/4+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Engineers <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region></st1:place> President <st1:personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</st1:personname> with Rodney McDermott </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Chairman of Donegal Region </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">and the Region Committee</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Passing through County Fermanagh I could not miss the huge
tourism offering that is now Lough Erne and the neatly maintained road side and
farm hedges all the way to Aghalane Bridge in County Cavan. I stopped at the
new bridge named after Senator George Mitchell which I had helped to build
working as consultant to Cavan County Council in 1998. It was built on the back
of the Good Friday Agreement signed earlier that year which the Senator had
brokered in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Belfast</st1:place></st1:city>.
I also met the Senator at the Bridge ceremony later that year where he spoke
frankly on 'how the peace was made' that Good Friday night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I walked south of the Border to the artistic feature that
always summed up the new peace that came 'dropping slowly' as the arms were
laid down on both sides and people returned to their families. The sculpture at
the bridge sums it all up 'Peace for All - welcome home the war is over'. The
sculpture shows the warrior with the broken sword being welcomed home by his
loved one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtlzAX9Chjy4PYWje2UxQzRO42ZByz7X6gIMRr6CJNlGD0Gj_lz6-upwpkYrlHde1A7w0aijigUM3y6LM7Xah-r0h7tDgrHZypo3HDTMZzCpPkRPv-rjbW8TDZHCb4OI8iHPyoAuf1mvF/s1600/5.photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtlzAX9Chjy4PYWje2UxQzRO42ZByz7X6gIMRr6CJNlGD0Gj_lz6-upwpkYrlHde1A7w0aijigUM3y6LM7Xah-r0h7tDgrHZypo3HDTMZzCpPkRPv-rjbW8TDZHCb4OI8iHPyoAuf1mvF/s320/5.photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Peace sculpture at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">George</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Mitchell</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Bridge</st1:placename></st1:place> at Aghalane on
Border</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I was born and grew up a short distance from the border in <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Cavan</st1:placename>
and will never forget the symbolism of that new bridge across the Border nor
the sculpture that depicts the real story of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Northern Ireland</st1:country-region></st1:place>. It had a special
resonance with me also as days later I headed to the Europa Hotel and City Hall
in Belfast as President to open the Engineers Ireland Annual Conference on
'Engineering Enterprise in Times of Change'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-11725880309168745282012-05-01T13:45:00.000+01:002012-05-02T11:39:57.669+01:00Remarkable Annual Conference ends in Belfast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">A remarkable Annual
Conference ended in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Belfast</st1:place></st1:city>
on Friday last. To me it showed Engineers Ireland to be truly an all island
organisation. In the Centenary Year of the Titanic Story in <st1:city w:st="on">Belfast</st1:city>,
the <st1:city w:st="on">Cork</st1:city>, Thomond, Midlands, West, <st1:state w:st="on">North West</st1:state> and Donegal Regions joined forces with the
East Coast members and <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Clyde Road</st1:address></st1:street>
staff to support the tremendous efforts of our <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Northern Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region> colleagues in the
Northern Region.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Northern Region is very
ably led this year by Peter Quinn who together with Fionnuala Kilbane our
Marketing and Communications Director in <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Clyde Road</st1:address></st1:street> organised the conference. The
conference theme 'Engineering Enterprise in Times of Change' was apt in terms
of our rebuilding a sustainable economic recovery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Key Speakers were Alex
Attwood NI Minister of the Environment, Bob Hanna Chief Adviser in <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources,</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Eddie O'Connor CEO
Mainstream Renewables, Dermot Byrne CEO EirGrid, John Barry MD Bord Gáis
Network and Tanya Hedley NI Electricity Regulator.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa89PPqWfCc-vp3RM9BWtZiAfgBAyUFlK7FWz4PFIHM9cbJLF6GewgetPBNWpypeKUWmOXlWcN3Rh7GnNoGdLr3WlyAnSnaMq0sI1V0aWuj2BPHMzsoW8LTSjl_QD2djbmbqiQdGezgWS/s1600/Photo+Minister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa89PPqWfCc-vp3RM9BWtZiAfgBAyUFlK7FWz4PFIHM9cbJLF6GewgetPBNWpypeKUWmOXlWcN3Rh7GnNoGdLr3WlyAnSnaMq0sI1V0aWuj2BPHMzsoW8LTSjl_QD2djbmbqiQdGezgWS/s320/Photo+Minister.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<st1:personname w:st="on"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">PJ Rudden</span></st1:personname><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> President of Engineers
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> and </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Alex Attwood MLA
Minister of the Environment Northern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Guest Speaker from
abroad was <st1:city w:st="on">Belfast</st1:city> native Dr Stephen Myers
Director of CERN Laboratory in <st1:city w:st="on">Geneva</st1:city> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Switzerland</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
CERN is the European Research Body for Particle Physics. It was here that the
World Wide Web (www) was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989! CERN also had 5
Nobel Prizes in Physics between 1952 and 1992.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Day 1 of the Conference was
a plenary session on Outlook on Policy - Developing and Harnessing Creativity
and Enabling Ingenuity in the Public and Private Sectors. I gave the Keynote
Address and chaired Day 1. Day 2 saw breakout sessions between Offshore Energy
2050 and Manufacturing chaired by Peter Quinn Northern Region Chairman and Declan
Lyons Mechanical Division Chairman respectively.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTFWSbYMJKJxN4wOnipiK5-B9bLq-iZ2KndX2OUiF8N_BolyR50uX829SXX0fwpKqYtPAni-39f4W4gpbhKKnDvp9Mpjt6ttEkMawTUwjGzQkOtJc70tE_GlTO0Uw_0UpIx8A-aH36rTS/s1600/Photo_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTFWSbYMJKJxN4wOnipiK5-B9bLq-iZ2KndX2OUiF8N_BolyR50uX829SXX0fwpKqYtPAni-39f4W4gpbhKKnDvp9Mpjt6ttEkMawTUwjGzQkOtJc70tE_GlTO0Uw_0UpIx8A-aH36rTS/s320/Photo_1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Graphic
from Titanic Signature Building showing the old Harland and Wolff Shipyard </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">which is now the Titanic Quarter development</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">At the close of day we also
got a tour of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Titanic</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Signature</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Building</st1:placetype></st1:place>
which is the iconic new Visitor Centre opened on March 30th and already drawing
80,000 visitors in the first month! It's really a day event for the family so I
could not describe it adequately here as I did not see it adequately in the
hour and a half I spent there! You gotta go and see it yourself as it’s the
most professional and interesting audio visual extravaganza I've ever seen. It
depicts not only the Titanic Story but the social political and economic
circumstances in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Belfast</st1:place></st1:city>
in the early decades of the 20th century. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wcRjQL-4ZCCMo8qx2HmSfDLsNp3R9wMbIw0kT4EnjJxh4_mE2bZMZi9goBbaBsSe6BhgRBBeSS9EY4MjNHDrlcJkwaGGtcQ4Rg7tr3P8VwIokAisGte-kh-bjok20X3_sR0eiN4zPHja/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wcRjQL-4ZCCMo8qx2HmSfDLsNp3R9wMbIw0kT4EnjJxh4_mE2bZMZi9goBbaBsSe6BhgRBBeSS9EY4MjNHDrlcJkwaGGtcQ4Rg7tr3P8VwIokAisGte-kh-bjok20X3_sR0eiN4zPHja/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">The
signing of the Ulster Government against Home Rule by Edward Carson in 1912</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The main preoccupation in <st1:city w:st="on">Belfast</st1:city> in 1912 was not the launching of the Titanic on
its maiden voyage but the threat of Home Rule and the sense of betrayal of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ulster</st1:place></st1:country-region> by the
London Government under Asquith. You are brought on a whirlwind of carted tours
through the six floors of the building to see the manufacture of ships and the
lives of the people who made them even down to the red hot rivets installed by
mallet sometimes under candlelight. The external cladding on the building is
more than an architectural masterpiece - the zigzag aluminium cladding is
dramatic to view on the outside!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5i560LYObhu518Ye9bwaZYINa1rMxmGBPgCiDIO5b1HR9iC4SzMQw5eV0ZsX8K8f-C3gqVFKKN-OxpPmPc-TnHwZZvE7a1dr8edR1DfXpejVE53bGvF8bJdyv0DUjuGM-JxKugxJMu8q/s1600/Photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5i560LYObhu518Ye9bwaZYINa1rMxmGBPgCiDIO5b1HR9iC4SzMQw5eV0ZsX8K8f-C3gqVFKKN-OxpPmPc-TnHwZZvE7a1dr8edR1DfXpejVE53bGvF8bJdyv0DUjuGM-JxKugxJMu8q/s320/Photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Engineers
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> delegates entering
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Titanic</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Signature</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Building</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The speech of Environment
Minister Attwood was most sincere and interesting where he played to the
strengths of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Northern Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and the need to maximise our onshore and offshore renewable resources.
Conscious of the planning difficulties which he has seen on onshore wind
projects he sees huge prospects in connecting up our offshore wind wave and
tidal resources which are the best in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Belfast</span></st1:placename><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City Hall</st1:placetype></span></st1:place><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> is a beautiful building outside and even more so
inside where we were entertained by the Belfast Community Gospel Choir in a
truly iconic setting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Delegates
at City Hall appreciating the Belfast Community Gospel Choir</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Offshore Energy and
Manufacturing break out sessions on Day 2 were very interesting. I went to the
Energy session where Dr Eddie O'Connor outlined the urgency of moving to a low
carbon energy infrastructure for cost as well as environmental reasons. He
foresaw all cars on the road in 2050 will be electric cars as he said 'we will
have no choice by then'. Dermot Byrne of EirGrid Bob Hanna of Dept of Energy
and Tanya Hedley the NI Electricity Regulator all described the energy
challenges confronting us in a forthright way and the policies and measures now
being put in place to meet these challenges for future generations.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Rita
Pollard Engineers Ireland Communications Executive adjusting the President’s
chain </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I brought the conference
proceedings to a close by reminding our audience that the challenges that
confront us require us to make a distinct 'step change' in our thinking. 'The
significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of
thinking we were at when we created them' said Einstein. Certainly that is very
true of the energy challenge where we have to engineer a new technical
regulatory and economic world to give us a more secure future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxEK1gJjEpzkLc564z1WWSw3CDrn_WgWEowSI_dQDC3S2YABYKA3rnKHfoMGh7LvLgX88Wu8idqNaqOTO-VWsexXkWhr9AdQbrTZNR9e4yb4sZJz6kC_yUvTm2Nuuh2lo8CguIWSf_2uK/s1600/Titanic+Quarter+Montage+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxEK1gJjEpzkLc564z1WWSw3CDrn_WgWEowSI_dQDC3S2YABYKA3rnKHfoMGh7LvLgX88Wu8idqNaqOTO-VWsexXkWhr9AdQbrTZNR9e4yb4sZJz6kC_yUvTm2Nuuh2lo8CguIWSf_2uK/s1600/Titanic+Quarter+Montage+3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Finished
model of the Titanic Quarter</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I will never forget my few
days in Belfast in April 2012 when we sampled history but we also gazed into
the future and what new world we engineers have to create to ensure the safe
survival and well being of those who come after us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-1007157160701864602012-04-26T12:22:00.000+01:002012-04-27T10:12:31.480+01:00Annual Conference opens in Titanic Belfast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Last night the Engineers Ireland Annual Conference opened in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Belfast</place></city> at a reception hosted by the Northern Region of Engineers Ireland and was attended by the High Sheriff of Belfast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Northern Region Chairman Peter Quinn welcomed the delegates to the Europa Conference Centre and introduced the Chairman of the Titanic Trust, Jonathan Hegan, and CEO of Titanic Quarter, Mike Smith. Mike Smith gave a fascinating outline of the planning financing construction and fitting out of the new Titanic Belfast visitor centre that delegates will visit this evening before the conference dinner at <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Belfast</placename> <placetype w:st="on">City Hall</placetype></place>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DnCHWbO8a5jX-CHdUNGuzNoPucNGFAnCSod_Kr18rJSUKNIZzlE6wTq3ytJsh8zL-g9eIX5IoGLiUwTWdKGEO-uNHT3kgkNAiZGpZVeFjqgRrLVKJJ9g6qfAhmVgLw5BGi6YbqbAiMtI/s1600/Belfast+conference.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DnCHWbO8a5jX-CHdUNGuzNoPucNGFAnCSod_Kr18rJSUKNIZzlE6wTq3ytJsh8zL-g9eIX5IoGLiUwTWdKGEO-uNHT3kgkNAiZGpZVeFjqgRrLVKJJ9g6qfAhmVgLw5BGi6YbqbAiMtI/s320/Belfast+conference.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter Quinn Chairman Northern Region Engineers Ireland, PJ Rudden President Engineers Ireland, May Campbell High Sheriff of Belfast, Don McQuillan Director RPS Structural Designer of Titanic Belfast and Jonathan Hegan Chairman of the Titanic Trust</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It was a mammoth task to get Titanic Belfast built on time for the centenary of the Titanic story in April 2012. Getting work started on time in 2009 was challenging, as the world financial crisis impacted adversely on financing of the new centre. The developers at Titanic Quarter overcame their difficulties with the help of the architects firm Todd Associates, RPS Consulting Engineers and EC Harris Project Managers, resulting in the centre opening on time last month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jonathan described the combination of pride and humility with which they have celebrated the opening of Titanic Belfast which has attracted over 80,000 visitors already since its opening three weeks ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In thanking the Northern Region and the Titanic Trust for the reception and talks on Titanic Belfast, I welcomed all the delegates and hoped that the conference would be stimulating technically and exciting to see the iconic new Signature Building which is in the shape of a white star, each corner of which is a replica of the hull of the ship itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The conference will focus on the Manufacturing tradition of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Belfast</place></city>, now transformed from shipbuilding into the manufacture of turbines and other engineering components for the Offshore Energy industry, which are now taking place in part of the regenerated Harland & Wolff Shipyard in the middle of the new Titanic Quarter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This morning I will open the conference on Harnessing and Developing Creativity followed by Dr Stephen Myers of CERN Accelerator Laboratory in <country-region w:st="on">Switzerland</country-region> and Alex Attwood MLA Minister for the Environment in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Northern Ireland</place></country-region>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Then we will hear leading speakers from the Irish Energy industry including John Barry MD of Bord Gáis Networks and Bob Hanna Chief Technical Adviser in the Dept of Communications Energy and Natural Resources in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Dublin</place></city>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It's great to be in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Belfast</city></place> on such a wonderful occasion and see the attraction it has become on the strength of the new democratic institutions here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I'm especially delighted with the number of our members who have come from <city w:st="on">Cork</city>, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Sligo and all along the west coast of <country-region w:st="on">Ireland</country-region> to share in this national occasion in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Belfast</place></city>.</span></div>
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</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-20319745930245049932012-04-25T17:05:00.002+01:002012-04-25T17:13:55.771+01:00Cycling the Mayo Greenway and viewing Jackie Clarke Library<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I was recently in Castlebar at the retirement function for
Joe Beirne who retired as Mayo County Engineer. Joe is the last of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Engineers</st1:placename></st1:place>
who were appointed before Better Local Government (BLG) was brought to bear on
the local authority system. BLG appears to have brought local government closer
to the people with local delivery offices offering a 'one stop shop' and
Directors of Services providing both technical and administrative services in
specialist areas across an entire county. Engineers as professionals have also
got their fair share of Directors posts and many have graduated to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Manager</st1:placename></st1:place>
level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">There is also though now a widespread feeling among local
authorities that the demise of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Engineer</st1:placename></st1:place> was a mistake! A
number of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Managers</st1:placename></st1:place> have said this to me over the
intervening period some of whom admit were strong supporters of the new BLG
system at the time. The principal issue is that the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Manager</st1:placename></st1:place>
does not now have the very senior expertise and experience of a Chief Technical
Officer to make strategic decisions of a technical nature and the quality of
local government is the poorer for it I feel. The only two local authorities to
have retained the City or <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Engineer</st1:placename></st1:place> post are Dublin
City Council and Cork County Council and certainly nobody I know in either of
these local authorities would now countenance the removal of these posts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Joe Beirne was a very talented engineer, team leader and a
thorough gentleman. I wish him the very best in his well deserved retirement
and was delighted to be in Castlebar to wish him well on behalf of Engineers
Ireland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">When I was in Mayo I accepted an invitation from the West
Region Past Chairman <st1:personname w:st="on">Muredach Tuffy</st1:personname>
to cycle the newly opened Great Western Greenway from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Newport</st1:place></st1:city> to Mulranny - some 18km. At the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Newport</st1:place></st1:city> end we also met
the Secretary of the North West Region <st1:personname w:st="on">Rowan
O'Callaghan</st1:personname> who was also cycling the Greenway with his
family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhSLXuMCGoUjC6vVdO50x1d6wf1-j-k2_8A4gs4COmw3H_UOPeSBtj6bJkwhga55Z4UOHN85wWbta-MmE5OJ0kg1JyceJf1-aguH9Klf-xlO7OsE59DCkF1-i14JPgv4pGMIJpgU44QoC/s1600/1.photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhSLXuMCGoUjC6vVdO50x1d6wf1-j-k2_8A4gs4COmw3H_UOPeSBtj6bJkwhga55Z4UOHN85wWbta-MmE5OJ0kg1JyceJf1-aguH9Klf-xlO7OsE59DCkF1-i14JPgv4pGMIJpgU44QoC/s320/1.photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Collecting bicycles at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Newport</st1:place></st1:city> for cycle to
Mulranny with </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">North West</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Region </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">Secretary </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Rowan O’Callaghan and Past Chairman
West Region </span><st1:personname style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;" w:st="on">Muredach Tuffy</st1:personname></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Greenway runs from Achill to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Westport</st1:place></st1:city> has been designated as part of the
European Centre of Excellence Network (EDEN). I had only heard of this European
Designation in Carlingford Co Louth a few weeks back. The Greenway runs the
line generally of the Great Western Railway from Mulranny to <st1:city w:st="on">Westport</st1:city>
so that the vistas of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Crew</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place> and Croagh Patrick
from the old railway are now reopened to the cycling tourists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEGsmtLnkFNRaj1AQaa1FX4ksEvjjC47U0RL53x2yI75-eDBMVjj2ZZVu4_9aS0MLZw5YuHCfEsZkz1nwTqb8vx0l57zHFPcTN9APPUPE7tlcTFgweFVB0FaEUHaQ5VyZAjDeO0QOlWmP/s1600/2.+Map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEGsmtLnkFNRaj1AQaa1FX4ksEvjjC47U0RL53x2yI75-eDBMVjj2ZZVu4_9aS0MLZw5YuHCfEsZkz1nwTqb8vx0l57zHFPcTN9APPUPE7tlcTFgweFVB0FaEUHaQ5VyZAjDeO0QOlWmP/s320/2.+Map.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Map of the Great Western Greenway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Mayo Great Western Greenway already has an annual
tourist footfall of 150,000 which is quite phenomenal before this summer season
even commences. There are four bike stations at Achill Mulranny Newport and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Westport</st1:place></st1:city> where you can
get all the gear. They will even retrieve your bicycle from any of the four
Stations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccMBo1trhifQYHJOZRk_pOf3k9eCUmggPCDp-a-15CQ5i3vUXpHoVSonhouIAvJ1RvUFk3bePXRu6cAFMVTopgqIghYSV5W2Pqr_n0P6bqOhL8nP3Dxlo_BbcpdxGcOF3lQuVJYyRdv5T/s1600/3.+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccMBo1trhifQYHJOZRk_pOf3k9eCUmggPCDp-a-15CQ5i3vUXpHoVSonhouIAvJ1RvUFk3bePXRu6cAFMVTopgqIghYSV5W2Pqr_n0P6bqOhL8nP3Dxlo_BbcpdxGcOF3lQuVJYyRdv5T/s320/3.+photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">With <st1:personname w:st="on">Muredach
Tuffy</st1:personname> on one of the many new bridges </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">on the Mayo Greenway
with historic arch bridge in background</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Mayo County Council wants to be the Walking and Cycling
County of Ireland and I can see why. For many years successive County
Development Plans have set out this vision and developed routes in Bangor
Belmullet Westport and <st1:place w:st="on">Delphi</st1:place>. The current
County Manager Peter Hynes and his predecessor Des Mahon are very supportive of
the potential to realise this valuable tourist resource for the benefit of the
local economy. I thoroughly enjoyed my few hours spent on the Greenway and we
were lucky with the weather too. I highly commend this sporting pastime to all
with a keen interest in the wide open spaces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Greenway also leads onto a Smarter Transport initiative
which is being planned around <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Westport</st1:place></st1:city>
which already is one of our leading tourist towns nationally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:personname w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">PJ Rudden</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> President of Engineers <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> in Ballina </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Jackie</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Clarke</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> Director Sinead
McCoole </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">and West Region Past Chairman <st1:personname w:st="on">Muredach Tuffy</st1:personname></span></div>
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</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">When in Mayo, I also visited the Jackie Clarke Library and
Museum with Museum Director Sinead McCoole in Ballina where an impressive
collection of historic papers are being catalogued. It tells of the story of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Mayo</st1:placename></st1:place>
through the local newspapers spanning some 400 years but mostly the 20th century
covering the 1916 Rising and the foundation of the modern state.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0uqmEXVgPEqtVJ6h3aebiUKxzovMAazx41SU9zGAusoHHk2GX_Af8ML0ZIY9pVEJlZmoJnkxihfdybq7sjwrOSVSj6Tbe6Y1CCGW8mryziiNcU-wBo9YnBpfyS4mOHkW82zKhBoCuyUF/s1600/5.+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0uqmEXVgPEqtVJ6h3aebiUKxzovMAazx41SU9zGAusoHHk2GX_Af8ML0ZIY9pVEJlZmoJnkxihfdybq7sjwrOSVSj6Tbe6Y1CCGW8mryziiNcU-wBo9YnBpfyS4mOHkW82zKhBoCuyUF/s320/5.+photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Overlooking the River Moy in Ballina
with new Salmon Weir in the background</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">When in Ballina I also viewed the new pedestrian bridge over
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Moy</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place> and the newly refurbished Salmon
Weir on the Moy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">County</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Mayo</st1:placename></span></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> has an amazing number of natural
and modern amenities to engage the visiting tourist. It also has the stunning
landscapes of the <st1:placename w:st="on">Nephin</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountains</st1:placetype>, <st1:placename w:st="on">Ballycroy</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Lough</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">Conn</st1:state></st1:place>
and Lough Mask and the whole Cong/Ashford area where the epic film 'The Quiet
Man' was made starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.</span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-48690552880199689152012-04-25T13:17:00.000+01:002012-04-25T16:02:01.422+01:00Energy and Environment Division Lunch with Minister Rabbitte<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Energy and Environment
Division of Engineers Ireland hosted Pat Rabbitte TD Minister for
Communications Energy and Natural Resources to a Lunch Meeting at <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Clyde Road</st1:address></st1:street>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Chairman of the Division
<st1:personname w:st="on">Jim Gannon</st1:personname> together with the
Director General John Power and myself welcomed the Minister who indeed had
also launched our State of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland
Infrastructure Report</st1:place></st1:state> last February.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4hD7XAqtJF1_2J_NrmVWWBAofdaxciHwyTmKcah-T8R2-R435LUviJG5FOQr9IUidoEJvFMCYsW3X9K3uFE_54aiGdlaA_UtyS_eYB1YlaDXabIvOh-NuodPEhinNi21FIDJRK-LRdwU/s1600/IMG_3921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4hD7XAqtJF1_2J_NrmVWWBAofdaxciHwyTmKcah-T8R2-R435LUviJG5FOQr9IUidoEJvFMCYsW3X9K3uFE_54aiGdlaA_UtyS_eYB1YlaDXabIvOh-NuodPEhinNi21FIDJRK-LRdwU/s320/IMG_3921.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Pictured
outside <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">22 Clyde Road</st1:address></st1:street>
were Director General John Power, Chairman of Energy and Environment Division, <st1:personname w:st="on">Jim Gannon</st1:personname>, Minister Pat Rabbitte TD, President of
Engineers Ireland, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">PJ Rudden and
Liam O’Cleirigh Energy & Environment Division Member</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">There was a very large
attendance of energy engineers at the meeting drawn from the public and private
sectors. The Minister gave a very significant speech on Irish Energy Policy set
in the context of our international obligations and the current fiscal
limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Before his speech I
welcomed the Minister and underlined how critically important Engineers Ireland
considered Energy Policy and Development as key infrastructure to further grow
the economy. I also referred to our recent Infrastructure Report which he
helped us launch during Engineers Week in February.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Minister then spoke
about the fundamentals of Government energy policy in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> - 'If the growth agenda is fundamental
to <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>'s sustainable recovery strategy,
energy policy has a pivotal role to play in creating the conditions for a
return to economic recovery and job creation. The well being of our country and
society depends on safe, secure, sustainable and affordable energy......<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ireland can benefit from a
low carbon economy based around radically increased energy efficiency,
accelerated deployment of renewable energy, smart networks and a well
functioning, well interconnected internal energy market.....we have a rich and
abundant wind and ocean energy potential which I firmly believe can be
harvested and exported as a real economic opportunity for this island.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Expert advice suggests that
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>
has the capability to achieve its national targets for renewable electricity
from onshore renewable generation alone with capacity to spare. This means that
our offshore wind resource can be developed as an export opportunity.......<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">There is a real opportunity
to develop offshore wind in the Irish Sea area in the short term as these are
reasonably close to both coastlines and in relatively shallow waters.... with
cost advantages over the North Sea area........'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Minister was very
strongly in favour of renewable energy onshore to meet our targets and offshore
for export purposes. He also stated that the lack of a North South
Interconnector was costing the Irish consumers and looked forward to its early
construction together with completion of the East West Interconnector. He stated
that 'development of the high voltage electricity grid as planned in the GRID25
strategy is critical to our long term economic recovery.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">He looked forward to the EU
Presidency when the alignment of Energy, ICT and Innovation will be highlighted
to unlock new potential for investment and employment. He was also anxious that
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> seizes the
competitive advantage within <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> as a prime
location for energy research and innovation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">We in Engineers Ireland
were left in no doubt that the Minister clearly favours our balanced view of
Energy Policy as outlined in our State of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland Infrastructure Report</st1:place></st1:state> and that he is
not for turning on current national targets and projects as they are essential
to assist our national recovery. It had been a most interesting and revealing
meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-91499198519745043952012-04-25T11:24:00.000+01:002012-04-25T11:24:26.118+01:00New Engineers Ireland Byelaws adopted<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A huge number of issues and
decisions were taken at our recent April Council meeting. Apart from a new
corporate Strategy, election of a new Vice President, we also adopted new
Byelaws to replace the last Byelaws enacted in 2003. These Byelaws updated the
governance procedures for election to Council and Executive. These give the
President increased powers for the co-option of new members to broaden the
representation to newer sectors and to reduce the traditional dominance of
civil engineers on the Council of Engineers Ireland. In this way other sectors
like biomedical chemical computing aeronautical and electronic engineers will
get a stronger voice and hopefully will be encouraged to join Engineers Ireland.
I would expect that the ongoing TV advert for Chartered Engineer would also
help. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpy0R1rsHfFWbVL6pPYekr_7zTLNn4Q7We4CK03lItqRBIB3rCDBqcxJNxusDvl5Fu0mK2k8e9xJN18gDYr_iucnLxQOTkJUKvgXpyCQPdezVqft-jAuKu3BMLLrlK-mB3qVoIjacxwUv/s1600/front-ofhouse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpy0R1rsHfFWbVL6pPYekr_7zTLNn4Q7We4CK03lItqRBIB3rCDBqcxJNxusDvl5Fu0mK2k8e9xJN18gDYr_iucnLxQOTkJUKvgXpyCQPdezVqft-jAuKu3BMLLrlK-mB3qVoIjacxwUv/s320/front-ofhouse.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Engineers Ireland
Headquarters at Clyde Road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The additional cooption
discretion will also help to address gender balance and encourage younger
members onto Council. During my year as President we brought the Chairperson of
the Young Engineers Society onto both Council and Executive for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We also removed the
absolute necessity that future Director Generals of Engineers Ireland have to
be Chartered Engineers although the preference for this has been retained. This
was a contentious item only settled by secret ballot at Council earlier in the
year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I want to pay tribute to
former President Anne Butler who chaired the Byelaws Task Force which also had
Domhnall Blair, Mairín Ní Aonghusa, Sean Linehan and Tanya Layng. Domhnall has
an encyclopedic knowledge of Engineers Ireland byelaws and procedures from his
many years on Council and greatly assisted by Mairín who is former Secretary to
many Councils, Executives and Director Generals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Having passed the new
Byelaws we then decided to proceed with this year's Council Election in
accordance with them. In this way next year's Council were elected and
procedures put in place to elect next year's Executive Board which is the new
title we have given the Executive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Embedded in the new Byelaws
are the new Membership Rules, the relatively new Code of Ethics and new
Guidelines for Committees and Boards for Regions, Divisions and Societies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">At this Council also we
approved the audited Annual Accounts for the Annual Report and six candidates
for Fellowship by Presidential Invitation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As it was former President <st1:personname w:st="on">Martin Lowery</st1:personname>'s last Council meeting I sincerely
thanked him for his hard work on Council for 4 years, his year as a very wise
President and for his great assistance to me over the past year in particular.
I also thanked the two Vice Presidents Michael Phillips and John O'Dea for
their support at Council and at all other times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">All in all, this April
Council meeting which was my last as President concluded a lot of important business
which will set a roadmap for the years ahead. I am most grateful to the Council
and Executive for the workmanlike and constructive fashion with which they
addressed the various issues over the past year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-70170522735859928112012-04-24T17:41:00.000+01:002012-04-24T18:15:12.096+01:00New Vice President Elected<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">At the April
Council meeting I nominated <st1:personname w:st="on">Regina Moran</st1:personname>
CEO of Fujitsu <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>
as the next Vice President of Engineers Ireland. She was unanimously endorsed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Regina</span></st1:city></st1:place><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
will thus become the third female President of Engineers Ireland in May 2014 in succession to Dr. John O'Dea who will take over from Michael Phillips as President in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5D9HBDUcb10uYIwW7XJwtu8j6XQ0hZenP0ZDE265zKUg6YOjqkmBF4AlmOSUyMUhrK6r8ZTyArwTjMme7d5CKIzBZwcv_UcNhd0zSoHTBuR5hmwPgma11Q8yyAxTDh4WtvWDq3zzHgv2/s1600/moran-regina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5D9HBDUcb10uYIwW7XJwtu8j6XQ0hZenP0ZDE265zKUg6YOjqkmBF4AlmOSUyMUhrK6r8ZTyArwTjMme7d5CKIzBZwcv_UcNhd0zSoHTBuR5hmwPgma11Q8yyAxTDh4WtvWDq3zzHgv2/s320/moran-regina.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regina Moran CEO of Fujitsu<br />Courtesy of Fujitsu Ireland</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In May 2009,
<st1:city w:st="on">Regina</st1:city> was appointed CEO of Fujitsu <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region></st1:place>
where she leads a 350 strong team focussed on delivering ICT services to the
Irish marketplace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Following
her third level education in Engineering undertaken in <st1:city w:st="on">Waterford</st1:city>
and <st1:city w:st="on">Cork</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Regina</st1:place></st1:city>’s
career began as an Electronics Engineer with Amdahl, a computer mainframe
manufacturer, progressing to become a co-founder of the services and consulting
group there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In 1997, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Regina</st1:place></st1:city> was co-founder of
DMR Consulting Ireland where she held the role of Director of Operations
responsible for Project Delivery. DMR Consulting became Fujitsu Consulting and
subsequently merged with Fujitsu Services in April 2004 and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Regina</st1:city></st1:place> was appointed CEO of Fujitsu Services
in August 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Regina</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
is the current Chair of ICT Ireland within IBEC, a Member of the Council of
Dublin Chamber of Commerce and a member of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Dublin</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> governing
authority. She is a Fellow<st1:place w:st="on"> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Engineers</st1:placename></st1:place> of Ireland
(FIEI) and a non-Executive Director of EirGrid. <st1:city w:st="on">Regina</st1:city> holds
an MBA from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Dublin</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>,
which she achieved with First Class Honours, coming first in her group. She was
also awarded the ‘Sir Charles Harvey Award’ for outstanding contribution in her
post-graduate studies. She is married with three children and is an enthusiastic
Munster Rugby supported.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">We welcome <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Regina</st1:place></st1:city> as our new Vice
President and look forward to her experience and expertise. She represents one
of the significant areas of the growth economy where major
players like Fujitsu are an excellent example of foreign direct investment in
the technology sector into <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
In Engineers Ireland, we hope to grow our role more into the Computing / Technology
sector in the years ahead and are delighted that our former President Dr Chris Horn ex Iona Technologies continues to chair our Computing Division. In addition, we elected Stephen McIntyre to our Council during the year. Stephen was a Senior Director at Google in Dublin and was recently appointed CEO of Twitter Europe Operations still based in Dublin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-58856431776203628782012-04-24T14:27:00.000+01:002012-04-24T14:46:43.153+01:00New Strategy for Engineers Ireland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">At our April Council
meeting we adopted a new Strategy for Engineers Ireland for the period 2012 -
2015. It would be difficult and indeed unwise to try to foresee beyond the
medium term currently with the uncertainty in the Irish economy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKBh9j1dCN5bsuYKlwuV63U282ho6lBOe0yLebwUUX-oFzQvC82OE2jOhr5jW5QvvT-TP96KFR2VCohG2Hw4a3__Te76XvilkuCTVhKFT1vxA876Mk_asRJfgFtSplUodhyphenhyphenxoCudFOkGn/s1600/front-ofhouse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKBh9j1dCN5bsuYKlwuV63U282ho6lBOe0yLebwUUX-oFzQvC82OE2jOhr5jW5QvvT-TP96KFR2VCohG2Hw4a3__Te76XvilkuCTVhKFT1vxA876Mk_asRJfgFtSplUodhyphenhyphenxoCudFOkGn/s320/front-ofhouse.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Engineers Ireland Headquarters at Clyde Road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In the short to medium term
we need to define <b>Who</b> exactly we are
as an organisation and <b>What</b> we
represent and <b>How</b> we intend to
fulfil our Role over the next few years. I would maintain that this decision is
critical to our future and unquestionably the most important decision that our
Council took this year.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The essence of our Strategy
is as follows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Who We Are; The Professional Body for
Engineers and Engineering in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Our Vision; A society enhanced by the
acknowledged contribution of engineering professionals.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Our <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mission</st1:place></st1:city>; Our members as leaders and
problem solvers commit to excellence in enhancing the quality of life for
all.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Our Theme 2012 -2015; The recognised
professional standing and role of the Chartered Engineer.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The four goals of the new
strategy are:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. REPUTATION: Enhance the
reputation of the engineering profession in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>, by continuing to advance
Engineers Ireland as its leading expert voice<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. SUPPORT: To support and grow
our membership and work with them to enable their career progression<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. PROFESSIONAL: Keeping members’
professional engineering competence current and world-class<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. INTERNATIONAL: Supporting
international mobility and increasing international recognition through
compliance with accreditation and competence standards to safeguard the
profession</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This Strategy will greatly
assist and inform how we spend our resources in the years ahead to accomplish
the goals that we have now set out. It will also help to remove any public
confusion as to who represents engineers and engineering in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">At the same meeting we also clarified the future role of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Irish</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Academy</st1:placetype></st1:place>
of Engineering (IAE) with whom we have recently signed a new Protocol.
Engineers <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> will deal
with current issues affecting the profession in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region> and the IAE will deal with
long term issues affecting the country. When both roles overlap e.g. the current
issue of Irish Water, we will agree and issue joint reports as appropriate. We
will have regular meetings to ensure that both organisations are aware of current
tasks and issues.</span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-84537118886373435472012-04-23T12:12:00.001+01:002012-04-24T16:50:42.461+01:00Presidential Address and Conferring of Titles in Cork<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Recently Engineers Ireland
Membership Manager Shirley McDonald and I travelled to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cork</st1:place></st1:city> for the annual Conferring of Titles on
members there in the Rochestown Park Hotel. Engineers <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> are the only body in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region></st1:place> statutorily permitted to
confer the title of Chartered Engineer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcgG3Q9WnJtFrejFKBYIGyglbJwoakemWZ39EXRfs1zbrNmvCw8hytTfQ2Kr2iAIEyQi50pqyHqSUYPLEe5Yu1rEEyWUGXgQCJmm6SrToRrm5-XOaf7EyP_QWYYgP8ax-4S67uIvuLl2W/s1600/CEng2012-1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcgG3Q9WnJtFrejFKBYIGyglbJwoakemWZ39EXRfs1zbrNmvCw8hytTfQ2Kr2iAIEyQi50pqyHqSUYPLEe5Yu1rEEyWUGXgQCJmm6SrToRrm5-XOaf7EyP_QWYYgP8ax-4S67uIvuLl2W/s320/CEng2012-1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Cork Region Engineers who were recently conferred with
the title of Chartered Engineer with President <st1:personname w:st="on">PJ
Rudden</st1:personname> and Chairman of the Cork Region Dr. Jim Robinson</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The event was organised in
the Cork Region where the Chairman is Dr Jim Robinson. Barry Leach a former
Region Chairman together with John J Murphy have been organising this annual
event for more than 20 years so it's little wonder that it all happened like
clockwork.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTs01EW-2fntz6addQOZodkue3wzrE2YAeeiXkE1ZkbRO70OYk_Qh88mffHCGM_NRAA-iO08_Swu0bI_4mWTbyy38NRPcie2vn-9aNFcmYidpLcrhO5Bl9klfnECdCVfttE5qsEVwsL2j/s1600/AEng2012-1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTs01EW-2fntz6addQOZodkue3wzrE2YAeeiXkE1ZkbRO70OYk_Qh88mffHCGM_NRAA-iO08_Swu0bI_4mWTbyy38NRPcie2vn-9aNFcmYidpLcrhO5Bl9klfnECdCVfttE5qsEVwsL2j/s320/AEng2012-1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Two newly conferred Associate Engineers with </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Chairman
of the Cork Region Dr. Jim Robinson and President <st1:personname w:st="on">PJ
Rudden </st1:personname> </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">After the Conferring of
Titles and presentation of prizes to students of UCC and CIT, I gave my
<a href="http://apresidentsblogbypjrudden.blogspot.com/2011/09/building-sustainable-recovery.html" target="_blank">Presidential Address</a> to an appreciative audience followed by a well organised
buffet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoLKVYaXvgzaPrQVVCEnFMEjotDpt7gpOMCt6wgoPsFFh4rCZNIGIjudHObVXVKGgzWzc6BLDV-5NKFayy1mxUp-Xb-fRScP2abNYChBdduYkZhYr94nAFAn0_JM_2RPoKzCrqUlHu5Qn/s1600/Grads2012-1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoLKVYaXvgzaPrQVVCEnFMEjotDpt7gpOMCt6wgoPsFFh4rCZNIGIjudHObVXVKGgzWzc6BLDV-5NKFayy1mxUp-Xb-fRScP2abNYChBdduYkZhYr94nAFAn0_JM_2RPoKzCrqUlHu5Qn/s320/Grads2012-1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Group of graduates and students of UCC and CIT who
were awarded prizes </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">at the recent Cork Region Conferring of Titles </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">with
President <st1:personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</st1:personname> and Chairman of
the Cork Region Dr. Jim Robinson</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It was great to see such a
number getting their Chartered Engineer title in particular in these
challenging times. Congratulations to all who received titles or prizes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIovrsWtu6HIUVqwgDqK91lomMXFQd76f6Ns7ozbsGxzOYVf-Gyi9PKuEKzN51RAbETmkbveO6EXeZZgEWJMIiol9MuWk43PAI5HdcNQIMtX41Ghytrj_CBBUNfkSvuD7Ekuj6ySAxiH0/s1600/Committee2012-1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIovrsWtu6HIUVqwgDqK91lomMXFQd76f6Ns7ozbsGxzOYVf-Gyi9PKuEKzN51RAbETmkbveO6EXeZZgEWJMIiol9MuWk43PAI5HdcNQIMtX41Ghytrj_CBBUNfkSvuD7Ekuj6ySAxiH0/s320/Committee2012-1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">President <st1:personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</st1:personname>
together with Chairman of the Cork Region Dr. Jim Robinson </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">and the other
members of the Cork Region committee </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">including Barry Leach and John J Murphy who
organised the event</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This was the first of a
series of these events around the country commencing in Cork in April and next
month going onto Limerick, Galway, Tullamore and finally Dublin at the Helix
DCU on May 18<sup>th</sup> next which is the National Conferring of Titles.
This will also be my last official function before the AGM on May 24<sup>th</sup>
and handover to Michael Phillips as the new incoming President.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-3805622064512994312012-04-12T14:00:00.001+01:002012-04-13T10:26:16.301+01:00OpenHydro Site Visit in Greenore and NE Region Social Event in Carlingford<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Last week John Power
Director General and I travelled north of <st1:place w:st="on">Dundalk</st1:place>
to the villages of Greenore and Carlingford Co Louth to join a North East
Region site visit and Social Evening. There we visited the manufacturing unit
of OpenHydro which is <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
most promising Tidal Energy developer. We were met by the CEO of OpenHydro James
Ivers and fellow Board Member and key adviser Professor Gerry Byrne of UCD and
former President of Engineers Ireland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">OpenHydro are so
enterprising in fact that they were chosen by Engineers Ireland as Overall CPD Company
of the Year in 2011 because of the innovative quality of their training and
development programmes for professional engineers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ME1gObZ2ttpytUdl7HvEVcIOMlCN2QI6c3oIrmTyTxQaw6Zp-x1FzLe4ua3X5Gq671OI8fUGhU30PhVI8gPBbIwWI1Wktq54P4z3dEqOC2VibfSlhZ43X9l5w84lQYynfl7DjIkFL8PF/s1600/Photo+1+Use.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ME1gObZ2ttpytUdl7HvEVcIOMlCN2QI6c3oIrmTyTxQaw6Zp-x1FzLe4ua3X5Gq671OI8fUGhU30PhVI8gPBbIwWI1Wktq54P4z3dEqOC2VibfSlhZ43X9l5w84lQYynfl7DjIkFL8PF/s320/Photo+1+Use.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">North East Region site visit to OpenHydro
manufacturing unit at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Greenore</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbour</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Tidal energy is part of our
ocean resources which we should harvest together with our offshore wind and
wave resources. This requires a highly multi-disciplinary integrated approach
in terms of resource assessment, grid infrastructure, planning/environmental consents,
regulatory regime, construction and marine deployment.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This challenge has been
addressed on a national basis by the recently published Irish Scottish Links
Energy Study (ISLES) Report by the Irish, Northern Irish and Scottish
Governments. It is shown that these offshore ocean resources represent a unique
export opportunity from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region>
to <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Wales</st1:country-region></st1:place>
in particular to help meet energy demand when many of their existing power
stations including nuclear plants require replacement. This replacement is now
likely to be delayed following how the events in <st1:city w:st="on">Fukushima</st1:city>
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region> in early 2010 are
impacting on Europe especially <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">OpenHydro have developed an
open rotating turbine up to 16 metres in diameter and are currently testing it
in French waters off <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Brittany</st1:place></st1:state>
in collaboration with French company EDF. This will become the world's largest
tidal energy farm when fully developed. In the sea environment there are huge
challenges in terms of depth and environmental conditions. These conditions
test the most robust of engineering materials in terms of stresses, corrosion
and overall longevity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:placename w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Greenore</span></st1:placename><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbour</st1:placetype> is ideally placed as a technical centre for
OpenHydro in a sheltered coastal area reasonably adjacent to the M1 motorway
equidistant between <st1:city w:st="on">Dublin</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Belfast</st1:place></st1:city>.
OpenHydro are employing local Irish engineers in Greenore and their
headquarters in Dublin who are leading projects currently in Ireland, UK,
France, the US and Canada.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">King John's</span></st1:placename><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Castle in Carlingford</st1:placetype></span></st1:place><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> at Night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The North East Region
Social Evening was organised by the Region Chairperson Maura Daly of Meath
County Council in the Carlingford Arms in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">village</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Carlingford</st1:placename></st1:place>
not far from Greenore. I hadn’t been in Carlingford before. As you approach the
coastal village from the south a stunning vista of mountains, seascape, harbour
walls, boats, windsurfers and medieval castles appear above the small village
itself. The village nestles between Slieve Foy, Carlingford Lough and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Mourne</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountains</st1:placetype></st1:place>
and is a medieval heritage village due to the Norman Castles and buildings that
straddle its narrow streets. Carlingford also lies on the historic Cooley
Peninsula of Táin Bó Cúailnge fame. The village is dotted with boutiques, pubs
and restaurants which were all full on the night of our visit on a cold March
night! What must this place be like on a sunny Sunday afternoon! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCleko9DhPOdh_R22T67pFFoCwUhN1VjQ7-qcGAJyEsTGCH47QBZ5M1CjbTe73yAvfeyBbaSvTu1YN19X1Zf_ktx4pXRplF0SPiEwG6sYMQ0g_paOWWcK4ByBtQUBPN2S7DwFLdq7Td6oq/s1600/Photo+3+Use.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCleko9DhPOdh_R22T67pFFoCwUhN1VjQ7-qcGAJyEsTGCH47QBZ5M1CjbTe73yAvfeyBbaSvTu1YN19X1Zf_ktx4pXRplF0SPiEwG6sYMQ0g_paOWWcK4ByBtQUBPN2S7DwFLdq7Td6oq/s320/Photo+3+Use.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Maura Daly Chairperson North East Region, <st1:personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</st1:personname> President of Engineers <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region>, </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">John Quinn and John Power Director
General of Engineers <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Social Evening was a
great success thanks to the efforts of Maura Daly, Vicki Chadwick and Fiona
Beers. Highlight of the event was the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement
Award from the North East Region to its longstanding Chairman and Vice Chairman
John Quinn. John was presented with an Award Certificate and a Cavan Crystal
lamp by myself, Maura Daly and John Power. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-3359352486551964232012-04-10T12:49:00.000+01:002012-04-10T14:20:14.976+01:00Along the Liffey on a Dublinbike<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Dublinbike scheme has
worked well since it was set up by Dublin City Council in September 2009 pioneered
by the current Lord Mayor Andrew Montague. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Due to public demand it has
recently been extended so my son Mark and myself decided to visit a few of the
city sights and galleries using public transport and Dublinbikes. We took the
DART to <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Pearse St</st1:address></st1:street>
where we visited the TCD Science Gallery where a food exhibition - Edible - was
running. Full of natural organic foods from herbs to seaweed pesto!
Recommended!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Then we took out
Dublinbikes and travelled up to <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">O'Connell
St</st1:address></st1:street> and onto <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Abbey St</st1:address></st1:street> where we followed the LUAS Red Line
up to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Smithfield</st1:place></st1:city>.
The Dublinbike is quite heavy and sturdy as it needs to be and this probably
explains the lack of vandalism together with the genuine pride that I think
Dubliners feel in having so great a convenience on their doorstep. The 'trick' on the bicycle when following the
LUAS line is not to allow the bike wheel slip into the tramline 'groove' but to
pedal over the LUAS line at all times roughly perpendicular to the lines. Also
to negotiate corners you need to take up position in the centre of the traffic
lane near the junction to keep you safe getting round the corner!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">On a Dublinbike along the City Quays across the river
from Dublin Civic Offices</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The first 30 minutes is
free and you pay fairly modest sums after that on your Dublinbike Card. The
locking system is simple but sturdy reminding one of the ease with which you
can acquire a supermarket trolley and redock it afterwards. When we reached <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Smithfield</st1:place></st1:city> there wasn't a
single other bike left at the docking station as all were in use on a busy
Saturday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This trip also allowed us
see the ongoing regeneration works that Dublin City Council continue to do on
the city streets. The replacement of cobble setts in one of the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Smithfield</st1:place></st1:city> streets shows
the fairly large depth of these stone setts. I was later informed by the Dublin
City Engineer (soon to be my successor as President) that these depths are
required to withstand the turning stresses of heavy traffic at busy junctions
in the city and that the specification was informed by engineering experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMwGmZx2__3CdeYVMh9mi3T6mrPI81bRW-28V1N83xUEuDkpKU2DIr3AuDcX_cP7CqXTjyVQgog4BJuhNb1soBivPlKHmVYmU1FXrysi0iCQKX51DoSe-uQJySuwoXXiPFoL5fxCPByxL/s1600/Sett+Paving+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMwGmZx2__3CdeYVMh9mi3T6mrPI81bRW-28V1N83xUEuDkpKU2DIr3AuDcX_cP7CqXTjyVQgog4BJuhNb1soBivPlKHmVYmU1FXrysi0iCQKX51DoSe-uQJySuwoXXiPFoL5fxCPByxL/s320/Sett+Paving+2.JPG" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
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<st1:city w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Dublin</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">
City Council’s new ‘sett paving’ in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Smithfield</st1:place></st1:city>
area close to the LUAS Red Line</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Might I say in passing that
the resurfacing of the entire City Centre at night this past winter was a very
impressive achievement by Dublin City Council. They very wisely used money
reserved for the now shelved Metro North to give the City Streets a new lease
of life after all the damage caused to the streets during the two very harsh
winters just gone by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">We reached the new <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">National</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> at the former Collins Barracks
close to Heuston Station. Few Dubliners myself included realise the historical
gems of our history which are stored there and it's free to all and sundry! We
saw the original Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Brooch and the Cross of Cong. The
Derrynaflan Chalice remains in <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Kildare
Street</st1:address></st1:street>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The highlight of my trip to
the Barracks though was the collection of life size Celtic Crosses made to the
precise dimensions of the real crosses distributed throughout the country. I
especially recognised St Muiredach's Cross of Monasterboice County Louth from
my time in road construction on Dunleer Bypass in the early 1990s now a part of
the Dublin Belfast Motorway. The cross and monastery at Monasterboice had to be
avoided by the new motorway for obvious archaeological reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">At Muiredach’s Cross in The National Museum of Ireland
at Collins Barracks</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Also notable in the newly
refurbished Collins Barracks is the 1916 Rising Exhibition together with the
history of General Michael Collins who took the Barracks over from the British
Forces in 1922 and who was tragically killed in the subsequent Civil War in his
native <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Cork</st1:placename></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dublinbikes is helping to
create a cleaner greener <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dublin</st1:place></st1:city>
and should be used by engineers in particular as a more sustainable form of
transport to support modern city living. The reduction in car usage within the
city cordon is very noticeable since the introduction of Dublinbikes but we
must do better to minimise car dependency. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Dublin Port Tunnel has
also greatly contributed to removing heavy traffic from the city quays as has
the new 30 mph speed level within the city cordon. Helping too are the increased
bus and cycling corridors and the 'bus gate' at College Green - preventing cars
in favour of public transport through this ‘pinchpoint’ at peak hour. This has
contributed though the initiative was wrongly criticised by city traders when
first mooted by City Traffic Engineers some years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It's another example of how
engineers need to hold our nerve when infrastructurally necessary but
politically unpopular projects or plans are proposed in the public interest. If
our analysis is correct and we manage to communicate what is intended and why -
then the general public will in time grow to accept our view as the preferred
technical environmental and economic solution to the problems of our time. It of
course also needs national and local political leadership behind such projects
to ensure that they are implemented in the national interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-23721354872390883202012-04-03T11:46:00.000+01:002012-06-21T10:02:42.259+01:00All aboard at Titanic Belfast for Annual Conference<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Few of us can forget the epic 1997 film 'Titanic' by director James Cameron with its haunting music and poignant story of young lovers Rose and Jack played by Hollywood stars Kate Winslet and Leonardo diCapico respectively. (<a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.titanicbelfast.com">http://www.blogger.com/www.titanicbelfast.com</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">The film brought the 1912 human tragedy very much alive - of the then 'state of the art unsinkable ship' built in Belfast which hit a giant iceberg during its maiden voyage across the Atlantic and sunk with a tragic loss of life of some 1500 human souls. There were some 725 survivors saved in lifeboats and indeed all of the lifeboats were not full of people when the ship went down.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F9Q8VzTm_swCYMrYdwoBXx9hv6bDgKh6JE88wwr_wXRcdY1InP_77E_A85b1BANBM8Cf7bSb2ohG-Btxc7Oomf_9q7buHFtu6sjnq8OE8AQDd2Y74YwP9Tt65VZERlea5GgmkaY2GIKC/s1600/Titanic+wreck-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F9Q8VzTm_swCYMrYdwoBXx9hv6bDgKh6JE88wwr_wXRcdY1InP_77E_A85b1BANBM8Cf7bSb2ohG-Btxc7Oomf_9q7buHFtu6sjnq8OE8AQDd2Y74YwP9Tt65VZERlea5GgmkaY2GIKC/s320/Titanic+wreck-banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High-definition photo of Titanic wreckage, taken by Dr Robert Ballard (1985) <br />
and can now be viewed as part of the "Titanic Beneath" exhibition at the Titanic Experience<br />
Courtesy of <a href="http://www.titanicbelfast.com/">http://www.titanicbelfast.com/</a> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">One might ask why such a human tragedy should now be 'celebrated' 100 years later and celebrated by Engineers Ireland in particular? Well the story of the Titanic is the story of a resurgent <city w:st="on">Belfast</city> and indeed of a new now peaceful and greatly invigorated <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Northern Ireland</country-region></place>! So that's what we are meeting to celebrate at our Annual Conference in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Belfast</city></place> starting on the evening on April 25th with the main presentations on April 26th and 27th!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK0euxpd4Cq85FWNYJ1QFs8qKBsE8wlj8vxrTsWzTLLpeoKWyR893PJOQ8AVvzBrng9mbW1adpoOD4ssKHXV03iPSJLVuqfJvt7yKfphf3_kfy6v0UD9jpOn0tN3GSLQbadDlL3p8W_5i/s1600/Titanic+Quarter+Montage+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK0euxpd4Cq85FWNYJ1QFs8qKBsE8wlj8vxrTsWzTLLpeoKWyR893PJOQ8AVvzBrng9mbW1adpoOD4ssKHXV03iPSJLVuqfJvt7yKfphf3_kfy6v0UD9jpOn0tN3GSLQbadDlL3p8W_5i/s320/Titanic+Quarter+Montage+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished model of the Titanic Quarter</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">The two main themes of the conference will be manufacturing and marine energy - both very relevant to the traditions of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Belfast</place></city> in linen manufacturing, ship building and seafaring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">The Titanic story is one of epic drama of romance and tragedy. There is enormous global interest in the story which made the film the highest sold film of all time for 12 years until the same director James Cameron produced Avatar which surpassed its revenue! It won a number of Hollywood Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. It was the first film in the world to exceed the billion dollar mark and the most expensive film made at the time by 20th Century Fox.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">The rebirth of Titanic is replicated by the rebirth of the Harland & Wolff Shipyard - as the now new Titanic Quarter of commercial and residential development rises like a <city w:st="on">Phoenix</city> from the ashes of a once troubled <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Belfast</place></city>. Central to the new Titanic Quarter vision is the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Titanic</placename> <placename w:st="on">Signature</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Building</placetype></place> - an iconic 6 storey Visitor Centre that celebrates 100 years of the site since the launching of the Titanic and which opened to the public last weekend.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtE-106KdPYp-5MdH4ymzEuNcLkAv2poDXmkTtSl08nwJkkMzyKReXuenCqrSWHdsi5LesGrmBwWX6_3s-EVJ9YULgdJce3LiXk5fINWD6VV-N3QuJZPQnVdk9Bmy_mKssgloJ4KWSubL/s1600/Titanic+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtE-106KdPYp-5MdH4ymzEuNcLkAv2poDXmkTtSl08nwJkkMzyKReXuenCqrSWHdsi5LesGrmBwWX6_3s-EVJ9YULgdJce3LiXk5fINWD6VV-N3QuJZPQnVdk9Bmy_mKssgloJ4KWSubL/s320/Titanic+final.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Iconic Titanic Building courtesy of www.titanicbelfast.com </span><br /><b></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Apart from a guaranteed visit to the new <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Titanic</placename> <placename w:st="on">Signature</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Building</placetype></place> we have an exciting line up of speakers at our Annual Conference (<a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.engineersirelandconference.ie">http://www.blogger.com/www.engineersirelandconference.ie</a>). The conference theme is 'Engineering Enterprise in Times of Change' and will address the role that engineers will play in the drive to create new jobs and indigenous enterprise as well as our importance in continuing to attract foreign direct investment onto the island of Ireland.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxZCCaB40ow1yfXhcNaXF1v7W_hZbRDn9VBzgq0eNrzQBpx8fwwYQ_sKR21iNKcyTgOTMIagBZJi_uecI-SJV5rXDTOi5gyxHV0qB2uheoApUhLbd52n_XzBBz7fMerhvrEzdXqNwvMmh/s1600/Engineers+Ireland+Annual+conference+small+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxZCCaB40ow1yfXhcNaXF1v7W_hZbRDn9VBzgq0eNrzQBpx8fwwYQ_sKR21iNKcyTgOTMIagBZJi_uecI-SJV5rXDTOi5gyxHV0qB2uheoApUhLbd52n_XzBBz7fMerhvrEzdXqNwvMmh/s1600/Engineers+Ireland+Annual+conference+small+logo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Engineers Ireland Annual Conference 2012 Logo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">The conference will feature speakers like Dr Stephen Myers Director of Technology at CERN Physics Laboratory in Switzerland, Bob Hanna Chief Energy Adviser to the Irish Government, Liam Nellis CEO of InterTradeIreland, Eddie O'Connor Chief Executive of Mainstream Renewables, John Barry MD of Bord Gáis Networks, James Cox Principal Consultant with Poyry Management Consulting and Tanya Wishart Northern Ireland Energy Regulator.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><b><i>Most of all - come to <city w:st="on">Belfast</city> not only to relive the Titanic Story but to see the new energetic and beautiful <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Northern Ireland</country-region></place> which is now at peace.</i></b></span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-53783724463040755242012-03-23T16:42:00.005+00:002012-03-26T12:33:25.320+01:00Keynote Speaker at Green City Conference in Taipei<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I was asked to represent
the European Commission as Director of the European Green Capital Secretariat (</span><a href="http://www.europeangreencapital.eu/" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">www.europeangreencapital.eu</a>) <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">as one of the two Keynote
Speakers at an EcoCities Conference on March </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">19</span><sup style="font-family: Arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> / 20</span><sup style="font-family: Arial;">th </sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">in </span><st1:city style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" w:st="on">Taipei</st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
which is the capital of </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">.
The conference was chaired by the Taiwan Government and organised by Professor
Tse-Fong Tseng of </span><st1:place style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kaohsiung</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">As the Asian Tiger grows,
all governments are looking more and more to environmental protection as the
optimum means of ensuring sustainable urban living. Thus the focus on what they
call EcoCities or Green Cities with low carbon objectives to meet the threat of
climate change. The <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>
government are seeking to learn what they can from the experience of the EU
Commission initiative on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">European</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Green</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Capital</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> project which I have
been directing so I was happy to go. Another Keynote Speaker had been invited
from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region> - Professor
Hikaru Kobayashi who is responsible for Environmental and Information Studies
at <st1:placename w:st="on">Keio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype>
in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and formerly Chief Environmental Advisor to the Japanese Government.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It was a long but
interesting trip via <st1:city w:st="on">Amsterdam</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city>. I took Aer
Lingus to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Amsterdam</st1:place></st1:city>
and China Airlines brought me the rest of the journey and back. The 'skymap'
was a reasonably straight line from <st1:city w:st="on">Amsterdam</st1:city> to
<st1:city w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:city> roughly along southern <st1:country-region w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region>, the Carpathian Mountains then onto the
Black Sea and across the Caspian Sea north of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Then across Afghanistan, south of its capital
city Kabul, into Pakistan and onto Lahore in India where we veered south along
the fertile Ganges Valley, south of Kathmandu and the Himalayas, to the city of
Calcutta at the mouth of the Ganges. During the trip we travelled at speeds
around 1000 km/hr at average heights of 10,000m or 10km above the earth's
surface in a Boeing 747.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">After Calcutta we then
headed south east towards Rangoon crossing over the delta shaped Mouths of the
Irrawaddy then crossing the Gulf of Martiban before heading further south to
Bangkok in Thailand. There was the most extraordinary orange sunrise lighting
the horizon to welcome us into <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city>
at 36 degree celsius in the early hours of the morning. It was purely an
airport stopover but you could sense that the air in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city> was very humid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The trip from <st1:city w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:city> to <st1:city w:st="on">Taipei</st1:city> took us
over <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cambodia</st1:country-region> and <st1:city w:st="on">Da Nang</st1:city> in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region>
and then north over Hong Kong towards <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>
and into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Taipei</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">International</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Airport</st1:placetype></st1:place>
on the north of the island. This was my first visit to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Visiting the EcoCity of Tainan inTaiwan -</span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Professor Tse-Fong
Tseng, National University of Kaohsiung Taiwan, </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Professor Hikaru Kobayashi, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Keio University Japan, </span></div>
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<st1:personname style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;" w:st="on">PJ Rudden</st1:personname><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">
Director of European Green Capital Secretariat, </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Dr Ching-Te Lai Mayor of Tianan
and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Dr Hwang-Jen Chang Director General </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">of the Environmental Protection Bureau
of Tainan City Government</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The EcoCities Conference was
organised by Professor Tse-Fong Tseng from the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Institute</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Urban
Development</st1:placename></st1:place> and Planning at the National
University of Kaohsiung. It was opened and chaired by the Vice Chairman of the
Taiwan Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) Dr Wan-Hsiang
Hwang. The CEPD is the central planning authority in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region> and reports to the Prime
Minister. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I was grateful that he also
hosted myself and the other Keynote Speaker Professor Hikaru Kobayashi former
Director General of Environment Management in the Japanese Government to lunch.
Also present at the lunch were the CEPD Director General Ms Kuo Fei-Yu,
Commissioner of the Taipei City Government Dr Yuh-Chyum Ding, Monica Kuo Chair
of Digital Research Centre and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Environmental Planning</st1:placename></st1:place>
and Design. I also met the Associate Professor of Land Economics at National
Chengchi University Dr Chen-Yi Sun and Analyst of International Economy at
Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research Ms Pei-Ju Yu at the Conference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In his opening remarks Dr
Hwang explained how <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region>
was looking to best practice in both Japanese and European experience of
EcoCities on how to achieve a low carbon response to urban living. He stated
that his Council were determined to create economic drivers to make more
sustainable cities happen in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Addressing the EcoCities Conference in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Taipei</st1:city></st1:place> were</span><span lang="EN-IE"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Professor Hikaru </span></st1:city></st1:place></div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Kobayashi Keio University</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></span></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">, </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Dr Wang-Hsiang Hwang Vice Chairman </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">of</span><span lang="EN-IE"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">the </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> Council for Economic Planning and Development and</span></div>
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<st1:personname u2:st="on"><st1:personname w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">PJ Rudden</span></st1:personname></st1:personname><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Director of RPS and</span><span lang="EN-IE"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Director </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">of the EU Commission </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">European Green </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Capital Award Secretariat</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Professor Kobayashi in his
remarks stated that Japanese policy on climate change was influenced by the
need to support the increased seniority of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>'s
citizens and also informed by the urgent need to regenerate the city region
damaged by the 2011 Earthquake / Tsunami and nuclear disaster at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Fukushima</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In my remarks on EcoCities
I outlined the experience to date with the EU Commission European Green Capital
Award (EGCA). The winners for 2010 to 2013 respectively were <st1:city w:st="on">Stockholm</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Hamburg</st1:state>, Vitoria-Gasteiz and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nantes</st1:place></st1:city>. The winner for 2014 will be announced
in June 2012 from a shortlist currently being formulated. The objective is to
reward environmental performance, ambition and to create cities as role models
of sustainable urban living. The mission of the award is ‘Green Cities – Fit
for Life’. The award is based on 12 environmental criteria including climate
change, public transport, biodiversity, eco-innovation and sustainable
employment - all judged independently by a Technical Evaluation Panel of
international experts. Then a final decision is taken based on the expert
recommendations by a Jury representative of the EU Commission, the European
Environment Agency, ICLEI – Local Government for Sustainability, the European
Environmental Bureau (NGO), the Covenant of Mayors and the Committee of the
Regions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">There were interesting
questions on how to configure and encourage the organisational ecosystem to
make such an award operate for cities of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>
and possibly elsewhere in <st1:place w:st="on">Asia</st1:place> where there was
no semi-federal grouping like the EU.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyQ17IovnAlkDTGfZBuAvgNhtE_xPEs1qUcPeszojEaAlQroD1Dbo3JvEC39VM3p6i6TXIxIbg6uyFlbPeunfC2v00p-Q-OgtOWAAlsRXPL1YsIoFXRZp7PemwjL6W3d8AHSaEvZPHz_Y/s1600/photo5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyQ17IovnAlkDTGfZBuAvgNhtE_xPEs1qUcPeszojEaAlQroD1Dbo3JvEC39VM3p6i6TXIxIbg6uyFlbPeunfC2v00p-Q-OgtOWAAlsRXPL1YsIoFXRZp7PemwjL6W3d8AHSaEvZPHz_Y/s320/photo5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Presenting the Keynote Speakers with a framed Lion's Head as a symbol of <br />Tainan EcoCity were Left to Right: <span style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">Dr Hwang-Jen Chang Director General </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">of the Environmental Protection Bureau of Tainan City Governmen</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">t, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">Professor Hikaru Kobayashi </span><st1:place style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Keio University</st1:city> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></st1:place><br /><st1:personname w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">PJ Rudden</span></st1:personname><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> Director of European Green Capital Secretariat,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">Dr Ching-Te Lai Mayor of Tianan</span><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Professor Tse-Fong Tseng, National <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">University of Kaohsiung</st1:city> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">After the Conference we
travelled to <st1:city w:st="on">Tainan</st1:city>, the designated <st1:placename w:st="on">Low</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Carbon</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype> in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region>. There we were given a civic
welcome by the Mayor of Tainan Dr Ching-Te Lai and his Director General Dr
Hwang-Jen Chang. Dr Lai welcomed us and presented both Prof Kobayashi and
myself with a framed ceramic Lion's Head as a symbol of the City. He was very
gracious in his welcome which was covered by national and regional TV networks.
We were also greeted by the Director of the Tainan City Government Tourism
Bureau Chun-An Chen. We visited parts of the old and the new Tianan. It is a
very fine city with a population of 1.7 million and is facing the challenge of
low carbon with ambition, supported by the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Kaohsiung</st1:placename></st1:place>
which runs the Tainan Low-Carbon City Project Office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbE0vDMeM5ndoFzVajl1WCfoMkZDk3qxmndK1HykHfDeT_Ac475cuWqK0b6P5chN0APfy8lYDd5q5_6rrmTV8sHVNeD9873QbYctCeeiOTThV3u0-t8g8put7rFt4uoQzNIEjbYrlNPKn/s1600/Photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbE0vDMeM5ndoFzVajl1WCfoMkZDk3qxmndK1HykHfDeT_Ac475cuWqK0b6P5chN0APfy8lYDd5q5_6rrmTV8sHVNeD9873QbYctCeeiOTThV3u0-t8g8put7rFt4uoQzNIEjbYrlNPKn/s320/Photo+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Professor Hikaru Kobayashi, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Keio
University</st1:city> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<st1:personname w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">PJ Rudden</span></st1:personname><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> Director of European Green Capital Secretariat,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Dr Hwang-Jen Chang
Director General of the </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Environmental Protection Bureau of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Tainan</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>
Government,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Professor Tse-Fong
Tseng, National <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">University of
Kaohsiung</st1:city> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">On the following day I
joined a National Workshop on EcoCities chaired by the Director General of the
Council for Economic Planning and Development Ms Fei-Yu Kuo. This workshop
attended by the most senior planning infrastructural and economic heads in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region> mapped out a new collaborative approach
to the development of EcoCities in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region> based on a combination of European
and Japanese experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hE-ycwNtvLsHEV1MCJ9y_SwioklZwW_ep_2H8drwYf9MKbLlgw9WuAACOwj4O2QnCqcf9xkbsuGMjmThevG4J4Jv16c-KmSCqBiCFR06wiZk_QWYQAlnKXoX8_RzkyxKq2_oEM_oDh-K/s1600/photo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hE-ycwNtvLsHEV1MCJ9y_SwioklZwW_ep_2H8drwYf9MKbLlgw9WuAACOwj4O2QnCqcf9xkbsuGMjmThevG4J4Jv16c-KmSCqBiCFR06wiZk_QWYQAlnKXoX8_RzkyxKq2_oEM_oDh-K/s320/photo3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Director General of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>
Council for Economic Planning and Development Fei-Yu Kuo </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">and </span><st1:personname style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;" w:st="on">PJ Rudden</st1:personname><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> Director of the EU Commission European Green
Capital Secretariat </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">outside Council Headquarters</span></div>
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<st1:country-region w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Taiwan</span></st1:country-region><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
has annual growth of some 4% in 2012 which is significantly lower than its
nearest neighbour <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>
whose annual growth has dropped to a very respectable 7.5% per annum. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region> is determined to further develop its
links with Europe and with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region>
in the years ahead and are going about it in a very strategic way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-37133245661812763952012-03-15T20:03:00.000+00:002012-03-15T20:03:31.561+00:00Innovation Ecosystem in CIT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Friday I visited Cork
Institute of Technology (CIT) who were the winners of two of the Engineers
Ireland Excellence Awards in 2011. On arrival I was met by Michael Loftus Head
of the Science and Engineering Faculty who was my host for the day. I also paid
a courtesy call to Dr Brendan Murphy President of CIT who I had met last month
at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Irish</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Maritime</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Training</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place> at Haulbowline.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK6fRtmqaq1egUxHtGqkBWCAKIrlsrRNuGbAxfw_fBOBkTFx8RAG0XitFFE3ALwM-10-s_yVEpkUiHbrNc3bhzKVT3BsZP1vBTI70jyRg__qNOV41qgR-HQJt8Di_pWMjUEbFDUn6P1CL/s1600/1+CIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK6fRtmqaq1egUxHtGqkBWCAKIrlsrRNuGbAxfw_fBOBkTFx8RAG0XitFFE3ALwM-10-s_yVEpkUiHbrNc3bhzKVT3BsZP1vBTI70jyRg__qNOV41qgR-HQJt8Di_pWMjUEbFDUn6P1CL/s1600/1+CIT.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<st1:personname w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">PJ Rudden</span></st1:personname><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"> President
Engineers Ireland with </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Dr Brendan Murphy President of Cork Institute of
Technology</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">My visit coincided with CIT Innovation Week which culminates in the coveted overall Entrepreneur(s) of the Year together with a 1</span><sup>st</sup><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Prize of €4000 sponsored by </span><st1:place style="font-size: 10pt;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cork</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> and City Enterprise Boards. In all some €10,000 in prizes are awarded to Most Innovative Entry, Best Graduate, Best Business Plan and Best Exhibition Stand. Uniquely for a third level exhibition a parallel exhibition for second level students was interspersed with the third level exhibition in the Nexus Hall. This was to show the CIT ethos that the Innovation Ecosystem starts at second level then graduates to third level and onto fourth level where the leading Entrepreneurs in the Rubicon Centre nurture the CIT Enterprise hub to support and develop innovative knowledge based business.</span> </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDEf8Nft_QrFHtRI6gfQP0-nieKtzCzVdwOKakM9FitFa8FWfUKMsBppwrqMHaRx3AwArelTh9tVP_3hIMpX0a1eb46quYJSKlbBVyfxnnsGQ3uQMEa3VxxJ8uOYE7Ryca8bl52qsyTea/s1600/Rubicon+building.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDEf8Nft_QrFHtRI6gfQP0-nieKtzCzVdwOKakM9FitFa8FWfUKMsBppwrqMHaRx3AwArelTh9tVP_3hIMpX0a1eb46quYJSKlbBVyfxnnsGQ3uQMEa3VxxJ8uOYE7Ryca8bl52qsyTea/s1600/Rubicon+building.bmp" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rubicon Building at CIT </span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The keynote speaker at the
Awards Ceremony was Bill Liao. Bill is a Serial Entrepreneur and Co Founder of
the Coder Dojo Movement to assist young people to learn how to programme. His
vision is captured in his book 'Stone Soup: a Secret Recipe for Making
Something from Nothing'. He has previously spoken at the London School of
Economics, the Global Forum in <st1:city w:st="on">Stockholm</st1:city> and at
Technology Entertainment Design (TED) Conference at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Long Beach</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>.
Having heard him speak, I can confirm that he is an inspiring motivator for
young people though somewhat unconventional in his approach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">With Michael Loftus I
toured many of the stands where there was an interesting mix of mostly CIT
Third year Mechanical and Biomedical Students competing for the main Innovation
Awards and secondary pupils competing for the Cork Schools Enterprise Programme
Regional Finals. Two entries from these schools in particular caught my eye -
Retrospekt from St Vincent's School Cork, X-Sellerate Tag Hoodies from Scoil
Mhuire gan Smal in <st1:place w:st="on">Blarney</st1:place> and BinCeption from
St. Colman’s College, Midleton. This competition offers second level students in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cork</st1:place></st1:city> the opportunity to
set up and run their own business experiencing all the ups and downs of
entrepreneurship.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiaCgRgk5mSw_4FJLz2nAfnNAhnHLDYMU68Kd2yJBNnlXb-xhJbkMUZBrR4oMRBvYk7YJpu2m_FpJSmSiicjczJW2neAynsKjJr9TGPkrZEDa5rm64ZUUtFYk-s7yQ_CT3cUShDnMWpbD/s1600/3+Cool+Counter+Picture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiaCgRgk5mSw_4FJLz2nAfnNAhnHLDYMU68Kd2yJBNnlXb-xhJbkMUZBrR4oMRBvYk7YJpu2m_FpJSmSiicjczJW2neAynsKjJr9TGPkrZEDa5rm64ZUUtFYk-s7yQ_CT3cUShDnMWpbD/s320/3+Cool+Counter+Picture.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Overall
winners of the CIT Prize for Innovation – Cool Counter – left to right Daniel Goulding,
Shane Fogarty, Cian O’Leary, <st1:personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</st1:personname>
President of Engineers Ireland, Darren Dawson, Cian Harley, Ann-Marie Cullinane, Mohammed Slimane and Michael Loftus Head of Faculty CIT</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The overall winners of the
CIT Entrepreneurs of the Year worth €4000 were Cool Counter from a combination
of the Business Mechanical and Biomedical Schools in CIT. Cool Counter is a
cooling device for beverages that can be integrated into a bar top and keeps
drink cool. The Most Innovative Award of €2000 went to the Muscle Stress
Indicator which provides real time analysis that correlates the relationship
between a muscle that is under stress and the resulting heat that is generated
because of this. Prize for the Best Stand went to Road Network Solutions a
project examining road junction safety.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO8Puz72PkaTFK4G8rfCRhu7pXyoawQmA6P0pj9G2-S1BMCf5tgECF9opU_Ylq49hpeAnOAAnWM0c41SUnlgKV3xzmt4vY64yHtpqaL24Wzu0PAQFP3hSyksmMiloV295dX9vNPZbg7IO/s1600/4+CIT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO8Puz72PkaTFK4G8rfCRhu7pXyoawQmA6P0pj9G2-S1BMCf5tgECF9opU_Ylq49hpeAnOAAnWM0c41SUnlgKV3xzmt4vY64yHtpqaL24Wzu0PAQFP3hSyksmMiloV295dX9vNPZbg7IO/s320/4+CIT.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Winners of the Best Exhibition Stand with Michael
Loftus Head of Faculty CIT, Evan Collins 3<sup>rd</sup> Year Mechanical Engineering,
Agnieszka Leja, 3<sup>rd</sup> Year Biomedical Engineering </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">and <st1:personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</st1:personname> President of Engineers Ireland</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As mentioned already the
CIT Rubicon Centre is an enterprise hub which is home to some 44 knowledge
based start-up companies. The centre is jointly financed by CIT and <st1:city w:st="on">Enterprise</st1:city> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Clients based at the Rubicon are at different stages of development from
concept stage to completing their first customer orders and many are already
trading on the international market. Company names currently there are Treemetrics,
Radisens Diagnostics and Kernel Capital Partners in addition to Entrepreneur in
Residence Kieran Moynihan. The CIT Innovation Ecosystem comprises Research
Clusters which feed into Technology Centres which feed into the Rubicon
Incubator Centre of Commercialisation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">While at CIT, I visited the
2020 Zero Energy Centre with Daithí Fallon Head of Department of Manufacturing,
Biomedical and Facilities Engineering where a model passive building is under
construction to include a new insulated curtain wall on the external façade of
the building.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU0KM_Gv0Ub0lkVRqIlyMOg-Sk6jAQB-0s4Mi4SFfAgZGYrAbWvN-QL2VyOG7txLG5-y7kA_e1d7YWFaDi84aoiH_u_-H8bk1aW7YjgOtj81WTl5rRhxR-N1hXu-D02hN719XUbcaPTky/s1600/5+CIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU0KM_Gv0Ub0lkVRqIlyMOg-Sk6jAQB-0s4Mi4SFfAgZGYrAbWvN-QL2VyOG7txLG5-y7kA_e1d7YWFaDi84aoiH_u_-H8bk1aW7YjgOtj81WTl5rRhxR-N1hXu-D02hN719XUbcaPTky/s320/5+CIT.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<st1:personname w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">PJ Rudden</span></st1:personname><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"> with Daithí
Fallon visiting the 2020 Zero Energy Project</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p>Together with Des Walsh, Head of Civil Structural and Environmental Engineering, </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I also met two student
classes in both Structural and Energy Engineering where we briefly discussed
their project work and likely future work opportunities.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BlBSBfwdKcZ45uPUIil4w1T8pyRzpI796ptj2puCAvI2iI7n1pIOVtzt9LxUxr5dCBTwOHAYcN4rmGer3LNfNSvHteSZ4Lp_gunsrsvz2q64ORKraFiXZjqzrO9hBvp4VjWWGj_7l1Xi/s1600/6+CIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BlBSBfwdKcZ45uPUIil4w1T8pyRzpI796ptj2puCAvI2iI7n1pIOVtzt9LxUxr5dCBTwOHAYcN4rmGer3LNfNSvHteSZ4Lp_gunsrsvz2q64ORKraFiXZjqzrO9hBvp4VjWWGj_7l1Xi/s320/6+CIT.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Structural
Engineering Class with Lecturer <st1:personname w:st="on">Kieran Ruane</st1:personname>,
President of Engineers Ireland <st1:personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</st1:personname>,
Lecturer Leonard O’Driscoll and Des Walsh Head of Civil Structural &
Environmental Engineering</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As I left <st1:city w:st="on">Cork</st1:city>,
it was very obvious that CIT is a major force in engineering education in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. 20% of
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Institute</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Technology</st1:placename>
students around <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>
are engineering students while only 7% of Irish university students do
engineering. Little wonder then that the unique Innovation Ecosystem in CIT is making
such waves nationally in the technology job creation area in terms of new
companies, services and products.</span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-61741008415825684262012-03-08T13:54:00.001+00:002012-03-08T14:50:16.295+00:00Visiting Yeats Country 'The Land of Heart's Desire' at the North West Region Ball<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Our North West Region comprising Counties Sligo and Leitrim is probably our smallest region in Engineers Ireland but certainly one of our most active. They recently hosted their Annual Ball in <place w:st="on">Sligo</place>. At the suggestion of the very active North West Chairman Seamus Lee we visited The Model Niland Art Gallery in <place w:st="on">Sligo</place> town where we found a display of works that included Jack B. Yeats, Paul Henry, George Russell (AE) and other national and international artists. Of course the association of <place w:st="on">Sligo</place> with the poet William Butler Yeats and his painter brother Jack B Yeats is very strong. More of that later.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We were delighted that the North West Region Ball was attended by the Mayor of Sligo Cllr Rosaleen O'Grady and the Vice Chairman of Sligo County Council Cllr Matt Lyons. <personname w:st="on">John Power</personname> Director General of Engineers Ireland also attended with his wife Mary.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Seamus Lee North West Region Chairman, Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady Mayor of Sligo, </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"><personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</personname> President Engineers Ireland </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">and Cllr Matt Lyons Vice Chairman of Sligo County Council</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There was a huge attendance at the event for a Region of its size. Most noticeable were the number of young engineers and even a few students from Sligo IT. I can recall last attending this event some 10 years ago after we opened the RPS office in <place w:st="on">Galway</place> with the same enthusiastic cross section attending the North West Ball. A very young Emer Concannon was Chairman of the West Region back then and it was great to meet her again last weekend. I’m glad to see that she is still active as PRO on the Region Committee which is still a very active mix of young and some very experienced people. There is also a good mix of private and public sectors, local authority and industry people. This winning formula can also be seen in the other more active regions around the country and is clearly missing in the less active regions.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6miyGkEuHLTGOALF1lw9Pj0CWY6KTPA_N5aaAN9k1Oyfl5xBaUSaDkDd__gmC-TUt3FBDsYamdVUVTM-vE4mSoWH-jjd6JY-G_Z2TXvKgQ8Px-Rc2qF9NgmDLjEDNegL1lXBvyN_2f9kn/s1600/photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6miyGkEuHLTGOALF1lw9Pj0CWY6KTPA_N5aaAN9k1Oyfl5xBaUSaDkDd__gmC-TUt3FBDsYamdVUVTM-vE4mSoWH-jjd6JY-G_Z2TXvKgQ8Px-Rc2qF9NgmDLjEDNegL1lXBvyN_2f9kn/s320/photo+2.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">North West Region Committee – At back left to right Joe Healy, George Chadda, Gerard Scott, <personname w:st="on">Rowan O'Callaghan</personname>, Anthony Skeffington, Deirdre McNulty,Emer Concannon, Geraldine O'Gorman, Pal Hardiman, Micheal O'Halloran, Francis Fidgeon, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> f</span>ront row Seamus O'Toole, Seamus Lee, Darragh O'Boyle, Michael Walsh.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Mayor in her remarks spoke kindly of the contribution that Engineers have made and continue to make to the development of the Region and spoke of the welcome that all visitors get and will get in the 'The Land of Heart's Desire' as Yeats called Sligo in one of his famous plays.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Responding to the Mayor my speech was short - trusting that brighter days lie ahead for the engineering industry especially in construction and drawing on the tremendous contribution that our export industries in Pharma, Computing and Biomedical engineering are making towards national recovery.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The North West Region certainly doesn’t hang around 'cursing the darkness' as they staged a Las Vegas Casino event between dinner and dancing. Though unusual at an Engineers Ireland dinner the casino had the intended effect of getting everybody into groups together actively and quickly getting to know everybody and clearly having fun too!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Having fun at the Las Vegas Casino at North West Region Ball in <place w:st="on">Sligo</place></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">North West Region Chairman Seamus Lee and Engineers Ireland President <personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</personname> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">pictured with the staff of CPD Accredited Employer Aboott Pharmaceuticals</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The North West Region Ball was a credit to the organising Region Chairman Seamus Lee Secretary <personname w:st="on">Rowan O'Callaghan</personname> (who acted MC on the night) and Region PRO Emer Concannon. This Region appears to have insulated itself from the effects of the recession by the sheer determination to unite and make the very best of the great human resources that they possess as they clearly showed on the night. I wish the Region continued success in the years ahead.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Before I leave <place w:st="on">Sligo</place> I have to tell you about the The Model Niland Art Gallery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is another example of some of the fantastic artistic facilities built around <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Ireland</place></country-region> over the past decade similar to The Visual that I toured in Carlow at the end of January. Nora Niland was Sligo County Librarian in the 50s 60s and 70s and Founder of the Sligo Municipal Art Collection. She started the collection by borrowing five works by Jack B Yeats to exhibit for the first Yeats Summer School in 1959. It has grown to some 300 works. On the tenth anniversary of her death in 1998 the collection was named after her and moved to The Model School on the Mall in <place w:st="on">Sligo</place>. Thus the Model Niland Gallery was born.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Viewing Jack B Yeats works in The Model Niland Gallery in <place w:st="on">Sligo</place> with Curator Lara Byrne</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We toured the gallery in the company of the Curator Lara Byrne who gave us a potted history of the Yeats family in <place w:st="on">Sligo</place> not only WB and Jack but their talented father John B also. There are a number of Jack B Yeats works on display. The one that caught my eye was the one of Red Hanrahan standing on Ben Bulben looking across at its sister mountain Knocknarea. Jack painted this at the request of his older brother William Butler to accompany his poem 'Red Hanrahan'. The painting certainly depicts the scene described in the poem 'The wind has bundled up the clouds high over Knocknarea and thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve may say'. The Maeve in question was Queen Maeve of Connacht who is reputed to be buried at the top of Knockarea mountain at Strandhill west of <place w:st="on">Sligo</place> town.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There is an Exhibition of John Butler Yeats and Jack B Yeats called ‘Father and Son’ on in The Model Niland in <place w:st="on">Sligo</place> from May 12<sup>th</sup> until September 2<sup>nd</sup> this coming summer. There is also an Artist in Residence quarters, a series of individual and fully occupied Artists Studio Centre, a substantial cinema and even a restaurant in the new Niland. Well done Sligo Borough Council, Sligo County Council and the Arts Council!</span></div>
</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199495940370644694.post-1010310112033833392012-03-05T18:44:00.000+00:002012-03-06T17:37:45.244+00:00Exciting New Future beckons for UCD Engineering Schools<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I recently visited each of the 5 new Engineering Schools in UCD now reconstituted into a new <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">College</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Engineering</placename></place> and Architecture under Professor Gerry Byrne as College Principal and Dean of Engineering. UCD has always been <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Ireland</place></country-region>’s largest engineering college in terms of student numbers and is likely to remain so.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The UCD College of Engineering did not realise its full potential in the reorganisation of UCD some years ago but now has the opportunity to really shine in terms of national development and recovery. I'm confident that the newly reorganised College will be a greater national and international force in Engineering than the sum of its parts. All 5 branches of Engineering have now been brought together as 5 new Schools. They have been appropriately renamed to reflect their skills and current market demands. Having visited each of them recently and having met the 5 distinguished and enthusiastic Heads of School and many of their staff I don't hesitate in saying that no <placename w:st="on">Third</placename> <placename w:st="on">Level</placename> <placename w:st="on">Engineering</placename> <placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Ireland</place></country-region> has as much depth and diversity of expertise across all of the engineering disciplines as UCD. The 5 new Schools are <placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Biosystems Engineering</placename>, <placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Chemical</placename> and Biochemical Engineering, <placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Civil</placename>, Structural and Environmental Engineering, <placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Electrical</placename>, Electronic and Communications Engineering and <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Mechanical</placename></place> and Materials Engineering.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">UCD College of Engineering Belfield </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Image courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.ucd.ie/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.ucd.ie</span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Biosystems Engineering</placename></place> is headed by Professor Francis Butler. This is a most diverse School covering Food, Agriculture, Environment and Sustainable Energy. It has three major research areas - Food & Process Engineering, Biomass to Energy and Bioenvironmental Engineering. Apart from the BE leading to ME, it has MSc degrees in Sustainable Energy and Green Technologies, Bioresource Technology, Public Health Engineering Technology and Food Safety and Risk Analysis. This School previously headed by Professor Shane Ward takes a very holistic approach to industrial needs and has a multidisciplinary approach feeding into the UCD Institute of Food Science which is a campus wide initiative. The School also hosts the Bioresources Research Centre (BRC) run by Dr Kevin O'Donnell at UCD which seeks to deliver innovative solutions in the 'biomass to energy' domain and is the recipient of the Charles Parsons Energy Research Award for biomass research. In the environmental area Professor Nick Holden is very active in Life Cycle Analysis as is Dr Enda Cummins in Food Safety and Risk Analysis.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Chemical</placename></place> and Bioprocess Engineering is headed by Professor Don McElroy. Graduates of the School today are engaged in technologies such as synthetic pharmaceuticals, fuels (incl renewable energy resources), polymeric and inorganic materials, fine chemicals, processed foods and beverages. Currently the UCD chemical engineers go 25% to pharma, 15% to general process, 25% to chemical processing, 20% into consulting, 15% into business. Major areas of research currently in UCD are Solar Energy Nanotechnology and Biopharma Engineering. In 2011, a pharmaceutical research and technology company APC Ltd a spin off company owned by Professor Brian Glennon and Dr Mark Bennett of the UCD Chemical and <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Bioprocess</placename> <placename w:st="on">Engineering</placename> <placetype w:st="on">School</placetype></place> won the Nova UCD Start Up Award. This company already has many of the top 10 of the world's Pharma companies on its client list. They plan to create 20 new jobs by 2013. Another lecturer in the School Dr Eoin Casey has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) grant to undertake ground breaking research in emerging technologies for nano filtration of drinking water.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Civil Structural</placename></place> and Environmental Engineering is headed by Dr <personname w:st="on">Mark Richardson</personname>. This School has an interesting organisational structure with a Head of School, Head of Discipline (Professor Eugene O'Brien), Head of Teaching and Learning (Dr Bill Magette) and Head of Research (Dr Yaqian Zhao). It also has a number of Programme Heads and Year Heads. While this School on the Richview Campus is physically separated from the other UCD Schools of Engineering it has always struck me that there is a very close rapport and social relationship between the students and staff - much to the student benefit! In addition the School has a close affinity as it should with the <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Architecture</placename></place>. Professor Michael Bruen heads the Centre for Water Resources Research which has an international reputation. Michael is also Assistant Dean of the <placename w:st="on">Engineering</placename> <placetype w:st="on">College</placetype> and is heading up the Technical Committee on the International Water Association World Congress on Water, Climate and Energy in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Dublin</place></city> in May. In the School also is an interesting new 5 year Masters in Structural Engineering with Architecture. There has always been a heritage of innovation in the school led in recent years by Professor Eugene O'Brien and Dr Amanda Gibney who is now overall College Vice Principal Teaching and Learning supported by Teaching Fellows Dr Patricia Kieran from Chemical and Bioprocess together with Dr Aoife Ahern and Dr P J Purcell from Civil Engineering. I was also given a tour of the extensive Structures Laboratory by Dr Debra Laefer.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Electrical Electronic</placename></place> and Communications Engineering is headed by Professor Tom Brazil. The School has two components Electronics/Communications under Prof Orla Feely and Electrical Power Systems under Prof Mark O'Malley. Prof Tony Fegan is Vice Principal Research and Innovation. There is a strong upward trend in graduate numbers in recent years with some 62 in Second Year in 2011/2012. There is an outstanding record of international research in electrical and electronic engineering. The UCD Electricity Research Centre (ERC) run by Prof Mark O'Malley is an SFI approved Research Cluster. There is a shortage of power systems engineers currently in the Western World even in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Ireland</country-region></place> to meet the challenges of the EirGrid 'Grid 25' project to upgrade the national network. Therefore the ERC is a critical national resource currently. There are a range of spin out companies set up in the last 10 years by this School - Massana, Cylon Controls, InTune Networks to name a few. A new ME in Biomedical Engineering is being run by Professor David Fitzpatrick of Mechanical Engineering and Dr Madelaine Lowery of Electronic Engineering connecting the disciplines of medical device design, physiology, fluids, electromagnetic and wireless systems. Many of these subjects together with biomechanics form the basis for Rehabilitation Engineering. There is an emphasis on independent learning and research with the opportunity to participate in a work placement with the medical technologies industry. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Mechanical</placename></place> and Materials Engineering is headed by Professor <personname w:st="on">Michael Gilchrist</personname>. This is another diverse School with many research specialisations. The principal four research areas are Energy, Bioengineering, Materials and Design/Manufacturing. The ME in Energy Engineering run by Dr David Timoney is truly multidisciplinary with inputs from electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, geology (oil/gas), business and economics. There's a separate ME in Materials run by Dr Ken Stanton and uniquely an ME in Engineering with Business run by Dr. Eamonn Ambrose. Many of Eamonn’s students are BE (Civil) in fact. With all of this emphasis on business it is no surprise that this is the School who leads the traditional MIE Degree course now renamed Master of Engineering Management (MEM). This is now run by Dr Vincent Hargaden who has taken over from Dr Donal Hughes. This course has always been a national enabler to bridge engineering and business and thus to fastrack career development in industry. In addition the <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">School</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Mechanical</placename></place> and Materials Engineering deals with research in Building Energy and Transport Energy including refrigeration, emissions and fuel efficiency. In the design and manufacturing area there was a recent spin out industry BiancaMed led by Dr Conor Hanley and Dr. Conor Heneghan. BiancaMed is a world leader in devices for contact free sleep and breathing monitoring. Uniquely the School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering has employed 2 business development managers to seek out and create greater partnership with business leading to job creation.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">'The Building of the State' model in UCD</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">UCD Dean of Engineering and College Principal Professor Gerry Byrne with <personname w:st="on">PJ Rudden</personname> President of Engineers Ireland with replica model of Old UCD School of Engineering Merrion Street now Department of the Taoiseach.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In my view with all the foregoing expertises and marketing strengths the stage is now set for UCD Engineering to become a leading European Centre of Engineering Research and Learning. If this is achieved the College will continue to contribute significantly to <a href="http://apresidentsblogbypjrudden.blogspot.com/2011/07/building-of-state-in-merrion-st.html" target="_blank">'Building the State'</a> as it always has done in a unique way. I recall being invited by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and UCD President Hugh Brady to celebrate 100 years of the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Old</placename> <placename w:st="on">UCD</placename> <placename w:st="on">Engineering</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Building</placetype></place> which is now the Taoiseach's Office in Government Buildings. That night last July there was a lot to celebrate not least 'The Building of the State' a parallel process in terms of the new emerging state in the 1920s and 1930s building it's strength economically from the Shannon hydroelectric scheme, rural electrification and the setting up of Aer Lingus, the Irish Sugar Company and Bord na Mona together with the Irish engineering graduates who populated these new state companies (from all colleges in Ireland and some from abroad.)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We are now in a new era and new challenges face us as a nation to rebuild our economy and our place in the world. The Engineering profession in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Ireland</place></country-region> is already leading that recovery in commercialisation of Mathematics and Science into products for export in terms of computing, pharma, biomedical and manufacturing products and services.</span></div>
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</div>PJ Ruddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04860724663510657340noreply@blogger.com1