Sir, – As an emeritus professor of microbiology at NUI Galway, I would like to comment on the gender balance and promotions issue ("Gender quotas proposed for NUI Galway", April 14th).
As far as I am concerned, I never suffered any gender bias during the many years I spent at NUIG.
In my view, an academic should be appointed or promoted within the university system strictly on his or her qualifications, experience, commitment to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and interest in engaging in research, irrespective of the commercial value, or otherwise, of that research.
It should not matter what race, ethnic group or gender is involved. It should be, for the good of the university, very simply the best person for the job.
To insist on a quota system, with respect to gender balance, does not ensure that objective. – Yours, etc,
EMER COLLERAN,
Oranmore,
Co Galway.