Ninth Level Ireland

“Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) today published its Annual Plan for 2020. Key priorities are: a continued focus on individual-led research programmes, challenge-based funding initiatives including programmes to address climate action, international engagement through partnerships with funding agencies, public engagement programmes to drive public interest and participation in STEM, partnerships with enterprise and supporting Ireland’s world class SFI Research Centres …” (more)

[DBEI, 9 January]

“The Government is increasingly under fire for how the nation lags its European counterparts in funding basic, ‘blue skies’ research, the kind in which real world applications are not immediately clear. During Science Week 2019, Fianna Fáil’s science spokesman James Lawless, stated it was ‘over-concentrating resources around applied-commercial research at the expense of basic/discovery research’ …” (more)

[Conor Purcell, Irish Times, 2 January]

“Uta Frith courted controversy earlier this year when she published an opinion piece in which she advocated for Slow Science, including the radical suggestion that researchers should be limited in the number of papers they publish each year. This idea has been mooted before, but has never taken root …” (more)

[BishopBlog, 1 January]

“Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of funding her Department provided to Science Foundation Ireland in 2017, 2018 and 2019, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 8 October]

“Ireland could become a world leader in the emerging quantum technologies market if a national centre is established, according to researchers from Tyndall National Institute in Cork. Dr Georgios Fagas and Dr Emanuele Pelucchi concluded that despite a slow start, Ireland is still in a unique position to become internationally competitive in the burgeoning field, which some analysts have claimed could be worth trillions by 2030 …” (more)

[Irish Examiner, 22 September]

“Fianna Fáil has criticised Fine Gael’s ‘short-sighted and philistine’ approach to research funding in Ireland, after the country won just one of 400 grants from the European Research Council. Fianna Fáil spokesperson on science, technology, research and development James Lawless said the government’s approach is hindering research in Ireland …” (more)

[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 16 September]

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Science, Technology, Research and Development, James Lawless, has said the short-sighted approach taken by Fine Gael in only funding research with expedient commercial outputs has greatly hampered the research and development ecosystem in Ireland …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 15 September]

“The Presidents of Ireland’s seven universities, represented by the IUA, have called on the Government and the national research funding agencies to urgently address strategic deficiencies in how Irish research is funded, following the outcome of the latest European Research Council (ERC) funding programme. Only one Irish-based researcher was funded out of a total of 408 grant awards from the €621 million funding programme …” (more)

[IUA, 13 September]

“Just one of more than 400 recently announced European research grants has been awarded to Ireland prompting calls for an overhaul in how the Government carries out its own funding. The presidents of seven third level institutions represented by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) have said national funding for primary research is far behind that of other countries …” (more)

[Mark Hilliard, Irish Times, 13 September]

“Minister John Halligan has urged scientists to use the next general election to put pressure on politicians to commit to investing in research ahead of the ‘fourth industrial revolution’. Mr Halligan also spoke of how he wants Ireland join European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) …” (more)

[Cormac McQuinn, Independent, 19 August]

“I caused unease on Twitter this week when I criticised a piece in the Times Higher Education on ‘How to win a research grant’. As I explained in a series of tweets, I have no objection to experienced grant-holders sharing their pearls of wisdom with other academics: indeed, I’ve given my own tips in the past …” (more)

[BishopBlog, 20 July]

“Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of call 2 of the disruptive technologies fund; her plans for holding an information event on the fund in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 27 June]

“Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated cost of associate membership and full membership of CERN; if membership has been considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 26 June]

“AMBER, Ireland’s materials science research centre, announced the creation of 350 jobs today as part of their second phase of research. The new research positions will be created between 2019 and 2025. This research will focus on the creation of new materials and technologies that minimize environmental impact, improve health, and build a sustainable future …” (more)

[Áine Kenny, Independent, 24 June]

“Investment of almost half a billion euro in cutting-edge science research is set to support the work of up to 850 researchers over the coming years. The Government announced on Thursday that it will invest €230 million in six Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) research centres …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 10 May]

“The Irish Universities Association (IUA) welcomes the announcement today by Ministers Joe McHugh and John Halligan of €12 million investment by the Irish Research Council in ground-breaking, basic research projects. Twelve researchers will each receive a maximum of €1 million funding under the Irish Research Council’s Advanced Laureate Awards to conduct leading-edge research over four years …” (more)

[IUA, 11 April]

“Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail): My question relates to research and development. Is the Minister of State satisfied with the level of public research and development funding and capital expenditure in public research? Will he consider introducing a new five-year cycle with respect to the programme for research in third-level institutions, PRTLI? …” (more)

[Dáil debates – Priority Questions, 31 January]

“Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the location of each SFI research centre; and the amount of funding allocated to each such centre in 2018 and 2019, by county, in tabular form …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 22 January]

“Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the capital and current funding allocated to Science Foundation Ireland on an annual basis since it was established up to 2018; and the 2019 allocation for same …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 22 January]

“Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the introduction of a new five year cycle with respect to the programme for research in third level institutions; the duration of the cycle in operation; and when it ceases …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 17 January]