DEPARTMENTAL NEWS This section contains important news (such as permanent appointments, prizes awarded, etc.) as supplied by the Mathematics Departments of Universities in Ireland. The Editor does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided. Queen’s University Belfast Dr Ivan Todorov and Dr Roozbeh Hazrat (formerly Australian National University, Canberra) have been appointed on permanent Lectureships. University College Dublin Drs Eimear Byrne, Michael Mackey and Rachel Quinlan have been appointed to permanent Lectureships with effect from 1 September 2003. Dr Gerald Williams has been appointed to a Lectureship for the year 2003/04. Drs Russell Higgs, Pauline Mellon and Mı́cheál Ó Searcóid have been promoted to Senior Lecturer.