Resignation of higher level chief is ‘deeply concerning’

THE surprise resignation of the head of the Higher Education Authority has been labelled as ‘deeply concerning’ by the Opposition.

Dr Graham Love announced on the HEA website yesterday that he was resigning from the role he held for just 20 months. He is expected to step down in October.

In his statement of resignation, Dr Love said that during his ‘brief tenure’ he had ‘endeavoured to make strategic development a core element of HEA activities’.

It was reported yesterday that tension had been mounting over the past few years between the Department of Education and the HEA amid reports that the department was attempting to micromanage the sector. The crisis in funding for the sector is understood to have escalated tension.

Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fáil’s education spokesman, yesterday called on the Minister for Education Richard Bruton to make a statement on the matter and said Dr Love should be invited before the Oireachtas Education Committee. Mr Byrne said: ‘It’s deeply concerning that the HEA is now left without a CEO following the resignation of Dr Love.’

He added: ‘It has been suggested that this resignation comes following increasing tensions between the Department of Education and HEA.’

Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane said his resignation is ‘troubling, given the issues facing the organisation’.

He is calling for the HEA Chairman, Michael Horgan, to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to ‘explain the circumstances behind the resignation of Dr Love’.

In a statement on their website, Michael Horgan said ‘on behalf of the Authority, I want to thank Dr Love for his significant contribution to the HEA’. A spokesperson for the Department of Education last night said they wanted to ‘sincerely thank’ Dr Love for his ‘contribution to the Higher Education Authority and higher education sector.