Madam, - Joseph Brady argues (September 23rd) that we cannot afford to compete internationally for the best academic talent available because paying them competitive salaries will diminish the "pot" for everyone else employed in the sector.
This, of course, is a legitimate concern for an academic trade union. This perspective assumes that the status quo will leave the pot unchanged. However, there is good reason to believe this will not be the case in a globally connected, dynamic world.
Failure to compete successfully for talent will result in poorer performing third-level institutions, impairing the advance of knowledge and discovery. The most talented students will seek out (and be welcomed by) the best institutions in the world, leaving us short of talent among both students and graduates and diminishing our competitiveness in knowledge-based industries.
It is, therefore, by no means certain that the "pot" can be maintained without competing internationally for the best academic talent. - Yours, etc,
PATRICK T. GIBBONS, Michael Smurfit School of Business, University College Dublin, Blackrock, Co Dublin.