Irish academics must be prioritised in Global Talent Initiative  – O’Connell

Irish academics should not be overlooked in the establishment of the Global Talent Initiative, Government’s new plan to attract top research talent, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Fine Gael Spokesperson for Further and Higher Education, Deputy Maeve O’Connell said: “I applaud the Minister for Further and Higher Education for seizing the opportunity in trying to appeal to disenfranchised academics and researchers from abroad.

“However, it is incredibly important that in facilitating this initiative we also review the conditions of junior academic staff across the third level sector who are already in Ireland.

“These staff members face pay issues, insecure employment, temporary contracts, and hours of unpaid work. We do not want to find ourselves in a situation whereby in our eagerness to welcome these brilliant academics from abroad, we end up alienating the hundreds of researchers, academics and lecturers we already have across our island.

“I know a number of lecturers who are forced to work across several third level institutions just to get by. Those on an hourly rate are paid on a per semester and per module basis, with no guarantee of future work.

“I call on the Minister to ensure that under this great new initiative, that we take the steps necessary to respect and retain our homegrown talent, and not neglect them”.