Protesting students bombard O'Keeffe's mobile with calls
Students from UCC and CIT march through Cork city centre as they protest against the Government's proposed fees and cutbacks in third level institutions
EDUCATION Minister Batt O'Keeffe will be forced to change his mobile phone number after students played a prank on him yesterday.
Mr O'Keeffe's number had been read out loud by Cork Institute of Technology Students' Union President Gearoid Buckley, who urged the crowd at the Grand Parade to text Mr O'Keeffe to express their opposition to cuts in education.
When Mr O'Keeffe answered his phone, all he could hear were students shouting "No to fees, No to Fianna Fail".
He turned his phone off, but when he turned it back on later, it was chock-a-block with messages from students, all bearing the same message.
"The Minister has cut communication with students' unions across the country, he will not discuss fees with us," Mr Buckley said. "Today, he will talk to us."
Mr Buckley declined to say how he managed to get hold of Mr O'Keeffe's personal mobile number.
The students from University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology were taking part in a protest rally to say 'no' to fees and further cutbacks in the educational system.
- Michelle McDonagh and John Walshe
Irish Independent
