merrion street

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today (Saturday) congratulated Professor Linda Doyle on her election as Provost of Trinity College.

Professor Doyle is an expert in the fields of wireless communications, cognitive radio, reconfigurable networks, spectrum management and creative arts practices, and as well as securing significant research funding, has held a number of senior roles, including Dean of Research in Trinity College.

Speaking today, Minister Harris said:

I want to congratulate Professor Doyle on her election as Provost of Trinity College Dublin. She will become the first female president in the college’s 429-year history. Another glass ceiling has been shattered.

 Among her many impressive achievements, Professor Doyle was the founder Director of the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre CONNECT, which is a world-leading research centre for future networks and communications.  This work is vital in making Ireland an island of innovation, linking Government and enterprise in new ways to benefit our economy and society, and I am proud to support it.

 I also want to pay tribute to Professor Jane Ohlmeyer and Professor Linda Hogan for their participation in this election. This election and its result are an incredible milestone for the college and our higher education sector.

 Professor Doyle will become Provost at a time of great change and huge opportunity for the sector and I look forward to working with her in the years ahead.

 There have been improvements in addressing the gender imbalance in higher education in recent years but there remains a significant level of under-representation of female staff at the highest decision-making levels in Irish universities (26%).

 Today is a historic day and a major milestone. I hope it sends a strong message to everyone involved in the higher education sector and beyond – a message of inclusion, equality and opportunity for all.