University heads have called on the Taoiseach to re-examine plans which will see a new commission examine the future of research funding. In a letter to Mr Ahern, the chairman of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities (CHIU), Dr Art Cosgrove, says any proposal to review research funding "should involve the university sector as a partner in the process".
The universities are upset by what they see as their marginal role in the new commission, established recently by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney. There is concern in education circles that the commission will give a new economic focus to research activity and undermine the role of the universities.
The recent Programme for Government stressed the pivotal role of the universities in research but the colleges remain concerned about the commission's agenda.
The commission says it will review the State's €2 billion-plus research budget with an open mind. Last week, there was controversy when the Department of Education failed to secure places for its two representatives on the commission.
In his letter, Dr Cosgrove says national research policy involves more than just the Department of Enterprise, which proposed the establishment of the commission. There are concerns, he says, "at what appears an imbalance" in the composition of the commission, which seems strongly to reflect the interests of the Department of Enterprise.
Other Government departments, he says, also have important and growing interests in research funding. He says: "The Universities carry out most of the research undertaken in this State and would wish to be regarded as partners in the formulation of national policy on research."
He continues: "CHIU notes that the proposed commission is not mentioned in the Programme for Government but is concerned that, regardless . . . the commission is proceeding with terms of reference that do not have regard to the relevant provisions of the programme."