A vote on whether or not an equality audit should be carried out at NUI Galway has been passed unanimously.

SIPTU members on the academic staff at NUI Galway held the vote this afternoon at an emergency general meeting.

The university came under fire recently when the Equality Tribunal found that botanist Dr Micheline Sheehy was overlooked for promotion by the college in 2009 on grounds of gender.

The audit will see an external body carry out a comprehensive review throughout the institute to ensure that gender equality is being practiced.