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By Tom\u00e1s Heneghan<\/p>\n
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Former Independent TD, Patrick Nulty is to begin teaching students at the University of Limerick this year, almost 18 months after his resignation from the D\u00e1il.<\/p>\n
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A source inside the university confirmed that Mr. Nulty has taken up a fellowship in the Politics and Public Administration department. The fellowship includes a \u20ac15,000 scholarship.<\/p>\n
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Mr. Nulty resigned his position as a TD for the Dublin West constituency in March 2014 after it was revealed he had sent inappropriate Facebook messages to a teenager and two other women.<\/p>\n
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Although he originally denied the allegations, Mr. Nulty later admitted that he had sent the message to the 17-year-old while under the influence of alcohol.<\/p>\n
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Upon resigning as TD, Mr. Nulty said the message was \u201centirely inappropriate\u201d and he took full responsibility for his actions.<\/p>\n
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He added: \u201cFor this reason I have decided to resign my seat in the Dail. I set myself the highest standards personally and politically. Unfortunately due to personal mistakes I have not met those standards in this matter and I will take responsibility for that.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI still believe passionately that Ireland can be a fairer and more just society based on equality and social justice but at the present time I believe to resign is the correct and right course of action.\u201d<\/p>\n
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In June this year a PhD Teaching Fellowship was advertised by the department of Politics and Public Administration at the university to commence this academic year and which will last four years, subject to a \u201csatisfactory academic performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Fellowship was advertised as including a scholarship of \u20ac15,000, along with an EU fee waiver.<\/p>\n
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Former head of the the Politics and Public Administration department at the university, Dr. Bernadette Connaughton confirmed to An Focal that Mr. Nulty has taken up the position as advertised.<\/p>\n
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Dr. Connaughton said the position was widely advertised and Mr. Nulty went through a selection process and was subsequently awarded the fellowship.<\/p>\n
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She also confirmed he would be conducting research and that part of the fellowship included some teaching responsibilities.<\/p>\n
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Mr. Nulty was elected as a Labour Party TD in the 2011 October by-election in Dublin West following the death of Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s Brian Lenihan.<\/p>\n
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He then resigned from the Labour Party in 2013 due to a number of opposing positions to the party.<\/p>\n
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Upon Mr. Nulty\u2019s resignation as a TD last year, Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party was elected in the subsequent 2014 Dublin West by-election.<\/p>\n
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Ms. Coppinger had previously come in third place at the 2011 by-election which Mr. Nulty had won.<\/p>\n