NUI Galway scientists help unravel genetic code of food crop DNA

By Katie Finnegan

Published in SIN Newspaper

Researchers at NUI Galway are part of a global scientific team, which has succeeded in decoding the genome of a crop, known as the Pigeonpea, the staple food for millions people worldwide. 

The mapping of the pigeonpea genome is a breakthrough in agricultural development and will have a major impact on improved crop productivity, tackling pests and disease constraints in production, and improved resistance to harsh environments and the future variable climate. It is now set to join the world's league of major food crops with the completion of its genome sequence.

Farmer growing pigeonpea plant

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), an Indian-based agricultural research institute, led a global partnership and spent a few years analyzing the genome. NUI Galway Botany and Plant scientist, Mark T.A. Donoghue, Reetu Tuteja and Charles Spillane helped in decoding this plant's genetic code and have their work has been published in the highest-ranked journal in the area, “Nature Biotechnology”.

“Pigeonpea is a staple food crop of millions of poorer smallholder farmers in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Prof Charles Spillane, the head of botany and plant science at NUIG.

The so-called ‘orphan crop’ is the first non-industrial crop to have a completed genome sequence. "While crops such as pigeonpea are essential to food and livelihood security in developing countries, such crops of the world’s poorest peoples are considered orphan crops as there is limited scientific research applied to the development of improved higher productivity varieties due to a lack of commercial incentives.” said Prof Spillane.

“The mapping of the pigeonpea genome is a breakthrough that could not have come at a better time. Now that the world is faced with hunger and famine, particularly in the Horn of Africa brought about by the worst drought of the decades, science-based, sustainable agricultural development solutions are vital in extricating vulnerable dryland communities out of poverty and hunger for good”; said Icrisat director general William Dar, who visited NUIG earlier this year.

Pigeonpea - Google Images

“Modern crop improvement technologies for smallholder farmer crops such as pigeonpea will be crucial to speed up the development of improved varieties that can provide high yields and improved livelihoods,” he said. 

The pigeonpea is known as the 'poor people's meat' because of its high protein content and provides a well balanced diet when paired with cereals. It is mainly used by resource-poor farmers in many semi-arid tropical regions of the world, such as Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and South-Central America.

Some of the research partners included BGI – Shenzhen (China), the National University of Ireland Galway, University of Georgia, University of California-Davis, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and National Centre for Genome Resources, and was also supported by the CGIAR Generation Challenge Programme based in Mexico.

UN Day for the Elimination of Violence

By Katie Finnegan

Women’s Aid groups around the country today took part in a balloon release outside of Dail Eireann in respect of the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence.

1658 incidents of child abuse were disclosed to the Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline in 2010 showing us that children are the silent, unseen and unheard victims of domestic violence.

Speaking at the launch of the 16 days of action, a global campaign that highlights gender violence Margaret Martin, Director of Women’s Aid says; “for many women who call Women’s Aid, protecting their child is a constant worry,”

“The recession has greatly reduced options for women experiencing domestic violence”, she said.

Concerns are growing over the impact the upcoming Budget is going to have on Women’s Aid services and on the capacity of the sector in general to support those experiencing domestic abuse.

Ms. Martin pointed out that refuges and support services have already been impacted. Refuges are increasingly unable to accommodate all women and children that need them. “Reducing services at a time of increased need would mean placing women who are being abused and their children at increased risk”, says Ms. Martin.

Domestic Violence is the most common context in which child abuse takes place. Exposure to domestic violence is recognised as a form of emotional abuse, with detrimental effects to children’s well-being, as recognised in the new Child Protection and Welfare Guidelines and handbook.

Abusive tactics used against children include physical and sexual abuse, shouting in children’s faces and being manipulated against their mothers.

Margaret Martin is calling on the government to ensure that the link between child abuse and domestic violence is understood. “The Government needs to apply the best practice principle of protecting the child through the protection and support of the non-abusive parent.”

“Children living with domestic violence are often not protected in Family Law proceedings, with Custody and Access arrangements made that disregard the impact of domestic violence on children.”

 “I don’t know where this will all end. I can’t believe that even after all I’ve been through to stop him abusing me and the children that I still have to meet him every week, listen to him shouting at the children and telling me that he might not bring them back this time.”  Elizabeth, caller to Women’s Aid

Women’s Aid is the national organisation providing support and information to women experiencing domestic violence. It is the only free, national, domestic violence helpline with specialised trained staff covering 170 languages for callers needing interpreting services.

The 16 days of Action campaign runs between the 25^th November and the 10^th of December to highlight the link between violence against women and human rights.

Women’s Aid National freephone number is 1800-341-900

Suspicion over the way NAMA deals being conducted

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

by Katie Finnegan

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy said the accuracy of the information on the NAMA website regarding possible sites for sale is leading to suspicion over how deals are being conducted.

The sale by NAMA of land known as the Ashcastle site on the border between Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Dublin City County Council is causing grave concern to Dun Laoghaire TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor.

The Ash Castle site has been listed with an address at Booterstown Marsh, when in actual fact it is adjacent to the nature reserve.

Nama - Google Images

“Furthermore The NAMA website states that the site is not for sale at present when I have been reliably informed that it has been sold subject to planning permission” says Deputy Mitchell O’Connor.

“This is causing concern among constituents in Booterstown/Blackrock who are concerned that an open and transparent advertisement for the sale of Ashcastle did not take place. There is disquiet about whether or not NAMA, by giving a misleading address, may have hindered other bids for this piece of land.”

The purchaser of the site is believed to be a sporting organization and Deputy Mitchell O’Connor says; “I am in no way casting dispersion about the purchaser of the site which I believe is a sporting organisation. What concerns me most is the process that was used. Is it the case that other houses, lands, apartments that are for sale on the NAMA site are also shown with misleading addresses?”

Eyre Square Galway

NAMA is obliged to obtain the highest price possible for the properties it controls and may sell properties by public auction, public tender, private treaty or whatever the normal market practice is for the particular type of property they are selling.

“I understand the sensitivity of sales under NAMA” says Deputy Mitchell O’Connor; “but am concerned that limited information on properties for sale by the Agency, is constraining ordinary people from knowing exactly what is for sale, preventing them for bidding on such properties.”

Since the beginning of November, NAMA has appointed receivers to 48 further properties, many of which are in Galway. According to the Irish Independent, 18 further Galway properties are now under the auspices of NAMA.
The Galway properties include a mixed-use property in Eyre Square and retail shops at Upper Abbeygate Street, a restaurant in Loughrea and also a shop in Tuam.


NAMA is the largest property holding company in the world and Deputy Mitchell O’Connor is asking the Minister to insist that NAMA “puts the correct address of property for sale, the guide price and the sale price achieved for properties sold by NAMA onto the Agency’s website.”


She is also calling on them to advertise publicly in newspapers and by estate agents to ensure openness and transparency is achieved.

Minister confirms newly qualified teachers can use JobBridge to complete their probation

Senator Fidelma Healey Eames - Google Images

by Katie Finnegan

Fine Gael Senator for Galway West, Fidelma Healy Eames, has received confirmation from the Minister for Education that newly qualified teachers can use the JobBridge internship programme to complete their probation.

JobBridge is a new National Internship Scheme that will provide work experience placements for interns for a 6 or 9 month period.

Minister for Education Ruari Quinn confirmed to Healy Eames last week that schools and VECs would also be able to take part in the JobBridge Scheme.

Speaking on the issue, Healy Eames says, “I’m delighted to receive confirmation from Minister Quinn that young teachers who are struggling to find school placements can use the JobBridge programme to complete their probation. This is very welcome news”

The National Internship Scheme has been set up in order to aid jobseekers who are unable to get a job without prior experience. It includes those who already have education or training as well as those who are unemployed and wish to learn new skills.  It will give these people the opportunity to gain the necessary experience to further their career.

Healy Eames is most concerned with the placement of teachers and has welcomed the new scheme. “This is a very positive step, and should help to stem the growing number of newly qualified teachers joining the dole queues. By participating in JobBridge many of these young teachers will now be able to undergo their probation and become fully registered with the Teaching Council.” said Healy Eames following the announcement.

She went on to say “I would now encourage both schools and teachers to register with Fás so both sides can avail of this programme. It has been made clear that schools cannot use the scheme to displace existing members of staff. But I think it’s a great opportunity to avail of additional resources; it’s a win-win situation for teachers and schools alike”

Air Lingus - Google Images

Job Bridge not only benefits those in the teaching sector. Up to 5,000 work experience placements will be made available to participants in the private, public and voluntary sectors also. They include the Quinn Group, Smurfit Kappa, Mercury Engineering and Aer Lingus.

The scheme began on the first of July and is open to anyone who has been signing on for at least three months. Interns will continue to receive their social welfare payment, and will be given an additional €50 a week.

Anyone looking for more information can e-mail jobbridgeapp@fas.ie or by calling 046 9738080.