November Executive Meeting

On November 10th I chaired the monthly Executive Meeting of Engineers Ireland. We approved a draft Budget for 2012 to include the continuation of our TV Advertising Campaign on Chartered Engineers. This 2012 Budget still requires Council approval next Saturday.

We held an important discussion on how to react to the developing Building Control issue at Priory Hall which has been evacuated at Dublin City Council insistence due to an alleged 'fire risk'. We are taking expert advice in this regard and want to see whatever regulatory measures are necessary to ensure public safety is taken as a priority. It would appear that Architects and Surveyors are more in the firing line on this issue than are Engineers. Nevertheless we want to see the compulsory registration and regulation of Engineers also to ensure a high level of public confidence in our profession.

We finalised our future Membership Rules for Ordinary and Chartered Membership. This matter will also go to Council on Saturday. If agreed there, this will bring to a conclusion a discussion at Council concerning our Rules for Membership and our Routes to Titles which has lasted since 2005. It also enables us to finalise our new Byelaws currently in draft.

We also took a decision to hold the 2012 Annual Conference in Dublin, to coincide with the European Young Engineers (EYE) Society, who are coming to Dublin that year. This is fitting during the Presidency of Michael Phillips my successor and current Senior Vice President who is Dublin City Engineer and Director of Traffic.