Madam, - We read with anger the article in your edition of November 8th regarding the Tánaiste's promise of financial support for Irish scientists working abroad, particularly the US, to return home and help build up the economy.
Good luck to my Irish colleagues who went abroad to work when the economy was in a poor state during the 1980s and 1990s, but as one of those who remained in Ireland during those difficult times, I resent the inference that those scientists who did not emigrate to the US are incapable of being "up there with the best". If we had been funded to the same extent as our emigré colleagues, rather than at pathetic levels provided by Ms Harney and her predecessors, maybe our reputations would have equally impressed our impressionable Minister.
Despite the severe funding restrictions which prevailed in the past, many scientists based in Ireland have produced world-class work. We ourselves have worked abroad for brief periods and frequently found that the results of our research were admired and valued by our foreign colleagues who were astounded at the paltry funding we got. Imagine what we could have achieved if we had been properly funded! If evaluated in terms of results out for cash in, many Irish-based scientists would rate very highly.
Although research funding has improved considerably, many of the larger grants are intended for scientists returning from abroad. Not only does the Minister intend to continue to under-fund our efforts, but she intends rewarding those who left for greener pastures due to the economic shambles at the time, which may soon re-visit us.
Maybe if some of the budding politicians of the past had emigrated, we would all be better off. - Yours etc.,
Dr JAMES WALSH, Dr JUDITH HARMEY, Malpas Terrace, Dublin 8.