An update on our petition

Hi everyone, 

First of all, we want to thank you for your outstanding support in signing this letter to the Minister and for your many comments in support of our recommendations around the proposed Research and Innovation Bill, 2023.  

Things have been moving fast and here are some updates from this week: 

• a shortened version of the open letter also appeared in the Irish Times this week (see here) and there has been a lot of activity on social media as we try to circulate the letter as widely as possible here in Ireland and abroad.
• we have had no response to date from the Minister but we have learned that hearings on the Bill will be held on Tuesdays 9th and 16th May at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It is our understanding that the Committee will not be holding any further consultation on the Bill after they report back to the Minister.
• we’ve written to all members of the Oireachtas Committee urging them to take our points on board and outlining how we can make Ireland a research leader by committing to increased public funding for R&D through the Agency, among other measures. 

Next steps:

• we have almost 1500 signatures and we’d love your help in getting the numbers up even further, so please continue to share the petition with your colleagues and friends. Let’s aim to have 2000+ by Tuesday morning.
• If you haven’t already done so, please write to your local TDs (list here)
• we welcome you to join us at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, 52 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, on Tuesday, 2nd May at 12.30pm when we will deliver a hard copy of our letter and a full list of signatures to the Minister.
• Monday 8th May at 11am: we will hold a hybrid event in Trinity to reflect on what all of this means for the research community. Everyone is welcome to join us in person or online, register here. 

Given the lack of consultation around this legislation and the manner in which it is being pushed through the Oireachtas we appreciate all the support in helping us to ensure that the voice of the research community is heard.

As ever, 

Jane Ohlmeyer (see full list of signatories on our open letter)