The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) is deeply concerned about the absence of any engagement by Research Ireland in relation to recent decisions affecting research funding programmes.
This follows the adoption of a motion at the recent AMLÉ Conference, which highlighted significant unease across the sector about both the substance of the changes and, critically, the process by which they were made.
At the centre of IFUT’s concern is the reported decision to discontinue key funding streams, including the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme and the Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, without prior consultation with representative bodies.
A Failure of Engagement
While the potential impact of these decisions is substantial, IFUT emphasises that the most pressing issue is the lack of structured dialogue with those directly affected.
This includes:
- Early-career researchers
- Representative organisations
- Trade unions operating within the higher education sector
The absence of engagement raises several serious concerns:
- Failure of stakeholder dialogue
Decisions of this scale require meaningful consultation with organisations that understand the lived realities of researchers and academic staff. - Missed opportunity for better policy-making
Engagement with bodies such as AMLÉ, IFUT, the Irish Research Staff Association, and the Postgraduate Workers Organisation would have contributed to more informed, transparent, and sustainable reforms. - A concerning precedent
Excluding representative voices risks undermining trust in national research institutions and weakens the principles of social dialogue that should underpin public policy development.
The Need for Structured Social Dialogue
IFUT has consistently advocated for structured engagement between national agencies and representative organisations as a cornerstone of effective governance in higher education and research.
This principle must apply equally to Research Ireland as it does to government departments and higher education institutions.
The union fully supports AMLÉ’s call for the establishment of a formalised and ongoing engagement process to ensure that representative bodies are actively involved in shaping future funding mechanisms.
A Collective Voice for the Sector
Commenting on the issue, IFUT General Secretary Frank Jones stated:
“I wish to commend AMLÉ for bringing this critical issue to the fore. Their motion reflects a growing concern across the sector that decisions affecting the future of research in Ireland cannot be made in isolation from those who deliver it.”
He added:
“IFUT stands ready to engage constructively with Research Ireland and all relevant stakeholders. However, that engagement must be genuine, structured, and ongoing. A sustainable and effective research system cannot be built without the active participation of researchers, academic staff, and the representative bodies that give them voice.”
Looking Ahead
IFUT reiterates its commitment to constructive engagement and calls for an immediate shift towards transparent and inclusive dialogue in the development of research policy.
The future of Ireland’s research ecosystem depends not only on funding decisions, but on how those decisions are made — and who is included in shaping them.