#irishtimes — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #irishtimes, aggregated by home.social.
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IRISH NEWS OUTLETS NAVIGATE TURBULENT AI LANDSCAPE
The Irish Times was tricked by an AI article. Later, a deepfake video targeted a candidate. See how AI affects trust and elections in Ireland.
#AIscam, #deepfake, #IrishTimes, #electionsecurity, #disinformation
https://newsletter.tf/irish-times-ai-scam-deepfake-election-threat/
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IRISH NEWS OUTLETS NAVIGATE TURBULENT AI LANDSCAPE
The Irish Times was tricked by an AI article. Later, a deepfake video targeted a candidate. See how AI affects trust and elections in Ireland.
#AIscam, #deepfake, #IrishTimes, #electionsecurity, #disinformation
https://newsletter.tf/irish-times-ai-scam-deepfake-election-threat/
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IRISH NEWS OUTLETS NAVIGATE TURBULENT AI LANDSCAPE
The Irish Times was tricked by an AI article. Later, a deepfake video targeted a candidate. See how AI affects trust and elections in Ireland.
#AIscam, #deepfake, #IrishTimes, #electionsecurity, #disinformation
https://newsletter.tf/irish-times-ai-scam-deepfake-election-threat/
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IRISH NEWS OUTLETS NAVIGATE TURBULENT AI LANDSCAPE
The Irish Times was tricked by an AI article. Later, a deepfake video targeted a candidate. See how AI affects trust and elections in Ireland.
#AIscam, #deepfake, #IrishTimes, #electionsecurity, #disinformation
https://newsletter.tf/irish-times-ai-scam-deepfake-election-threat/
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IRISH NEWS OUTLETS NAVIGATE TURBULENT AI LANDSCAPE
The Irish Times was tricked by an AI article. Later, a deepfake video targeted a candidate. See how AI affects trust and elections in Ireland.
#AIscam, #deepfake, #IrishTimes, #electionsecurity, #disinformation
https://newsletter.tf/irish-times-ai-scam-deepfake-election-threat/
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An AI chatbot wrote an article that became the second most-read on The Irish Times. Later, a deepfake video tried to stop an election.
#AIscam, #deepfake, #IrishTimes, #electionsecurity, #disinformation
https://newsletter.tf/irish-times-ai-scam-deepfake-election-threat/ -
An AI chatbot wrote an article that became the second most-read on The Irish Times. Later, a deepfake video tried to stop an election.
#AIscam, #deepfake, #IrishTimes, #electionsecurity, #disinformation
https://newsletter.tf/irish-times-ai-scam-deepfake-election-threat/ -
An AI chatbot wrote an article that became the second most-read on The Irish Times. Later, a deepfake video tried to stop an election.
#AIscam, #deepfake, #IrishTimes, #electionsecurity, #disinformation
https://newsletter.tf/irish-times-ai-scam-deepfake-election-threat/ -
An AI chatbot wrote an article that became the second most-read on The Irish Times. Later, a deepfake video tried to stop an election.
#AIscam, #deepfake, #IrishTimes, #electionsecurity, #disinformation
https://newsletter.tf/irish-times-ai-scam-deepfake-election-threat/ -
An AI chatbot wrote an article that became the second most-read on The Irish Times. Later, a deepfake video tried to stop an election.
#AIscam, #deepfake, #IrishTimes, #electionsecurity, #disinformation
https://newsletter.tf/irish-times-ai-scam-deepfake-election-threat/ -
THREAT MODEL: COVID 🦠
for May 7th, 2026
by independent journalist @violetblue- #Hantavirus onboard the #MVHondius a rare and deadly strain that can spread person-to-person
- US #FDA blocks publication of several studies finding Covid-19, shingles vaccines to be safe
- Australia taking preparations for #PathogenX seriously
- From the #IrishTimes : “we need to refocus on #LongCovid [because] in many respects #Covid19 is a vascular disease masquerading as a respiratory one.”
- Groundbreaking new 12-month study meticulously tracked post-Covid symptoms in children
- Scientists find human embryos are vulnerable to Covid
- @whn May edition of the Kids' Zone Mag all about plants and gardening
...and much more.
✨THREAT MODEL is free to read -- please help keep it accessible to all by becoming a patron, even $1 a month makes a difference!✨
https://www.patreon.com/posts/covid-may-7-2026-157584502
#ThreatModel #ThreatModelCovid #ThreatModelNewsletters #VioletBlue #COVIDnews #PublicHealth #CovidIsNotOver
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Delusional religious extremist #EnochBurke is to stay in prison. #IrishTimes https://archive.is/QOtPO
Today, the fanatical #transphobe declined the opportunity to purge his #ContemptOfCourt, repeating his fantasy that he was not trespassing at #WilsonsHospital school, despite a court order to stay away. Burke appeared in the #HighCourt #IEHC by video link, so was unable to disrupt the court.
Burke has already spent a total of >650 days in prison. He will reappear in court in 4 weeks.
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Delusional religious extremist #EnochBurke is to stay in prison. #IrishTimes https://archive.is/QOtPO
Today, the fanatical #transphobe declined the opportunity to purge his #ContemptOfCourt, repeating his fantasy that he was not trespassing at #WilsonsHospital school, despite a court order to stay away. Burke appeared in the #HighCourt #IEHC by video link, so was unable to disrupt the court.
Burke has already spent a total of >650 days in prison. He will reappear in court in 4 weeks.
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Delusional religious extremist #EnochBurke is to stay in prison. #IrishTimes https://archive.is/QOtPO
Today, the fanatical #transphobe declined the opportunity to purge his #ContemptOfCourt, repeating his fantasy that he was not trespassing at #WilsonsHospital school, despite a court order to stay away. Burke appeared in the #HighCourt #IEHC by video link, so was unable to disrupt the court.
Burke has already spent a total of >650 days in prison. He will reappear in court in 4 weeks.
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Delusional religious extremist #EnochBurke is to stay in prison. #IrishTimes https://archive.is/QOtPO
Today, the fanatical #transphobe declined the opportunity to purge his #ContemptOfCourt, repeating his fantasy that he was not trespassing at #WilsonsHospital school, despite a court order to stay away. Burke appeared in the #HighCourt #IEHC by video link, so was unable to disrupt the court.
Burke has already spent a total of >650 days in prison. He will reappear in court in 4 weeks.
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Delusional religious extremist #EnochBurke is to stay in prison. #IrishTimes https://archive.is/QOtPO
Today, the fanatical #transphobe declined the opportunity to purge his #ContemptOfCourt, repeating his fantasy that he was not trespassing at #WilsonsHospital school, despite a court order to stay away. Burke appeared in the #HighCourt #IEHC by video link, so was unable to disrupt the court.
Burke has already spent a total of >650 days in prison. He will reappear in court in 4 weeks.
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#EnochBurke appears to be about to get what he wanted: disciplinary appeal concluded against him, without hearing his case.
Instead of presenting his case, the #transphobic extremist ex-teacher today chose his old game of shouting down the meeting until he was removed.
Since there was no appeal to assess, the appeal will be dismissed. Tthe #BurkeFamily will lie and lie and yell "unfair", but the legal battle will be over. Burke's salary will stop.
#IrishTimes report: https://archive.is/emzDE
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#EnochBurke appears to be about to get what he wanted: disciplinary appeal concluded against him, without hearing his case.
Instead of presenting his case, the #transphobic extremist ex-teacher today chose his old game of shouting down the meeting until he was removed.
Since there was no appeal to assess, the appeal will be dismissed. Tthe #BurkeFamily will lie and lie and yell "unfair", but the legal battle will be over. Burke's salary will stop.
#IrishTimes report: https://archive.is/emzDE
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#EnochBurke appears to be about to get what he wanted: disciplinary appeal concluded against him, without hearing his case.
Instead of presenting his case, the #transphobic extremist ex-teacher today chose his old game of shouting down the meeting until he was removed.
Since there was no appeal to assess, the appeal will be dismissed. Tthe #BurkeFamily will lie and lie and yell "unfair", but the legal battle will be over. Burke's salary will stop.
#IrishTimes report: https://archive.is/emzDE
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#EnochBurke appears to be about to get what he wanted: disciplinary appeal concluded against him, without hearing his case.
Instead of presenting his case, the #transphobic extremist ex-teacher today chose his old game of shouting down the meeting until he was removed.
Since there was no appeal to assess, the appeal will be dismissed. Tthe #BurkeFamily will lie and lie and yell "unfair", but the legal battle will be over. Burke's salary will stop.
#IrishTimes report: https://archive.is/emzDE
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#EnochBurke appears to be about to get what he wanted: disciplinary appeal concluded against him, without hearing his case.
Instead of presenting his case, the #transphobic extremist ex-teacher today chose his old game of shouting down the meeting until he was removed.
Since there was no appeal to assess, the appeal will be dismissed. Tthe #BurkeFamily will lie and lie and yell "unfair", but the legal battle will be over. Burke's salary will stop.
#IrishTimes report: https://archive.is/emzDE
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In #Castlebar, few people want to go on the record about the #BurkeFamily.
The town's fundamentalist fugitives #MartinaBurke and #AmmiBurke are nowhere to be seen. The duo are sentenced to a fortnight of imprisonment for #ContemptOfCourt, like Ammi's brother #EnochBurke who is held indefinitely held for repeated #trespass.
#JusticeCregan called it a "family circus". Who wants to be caught up in that?
Report by Áine Ryan in The #IrishTimes: https://archive.is/qDld5 /https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/03/05/in-burke-country-many-people-have-a-lot-of-time-for-the-family-but-want-to-keep-their-heads-down/
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In #Castlebar, few people want to go on the record about the #BurkeFamily.
The town's fundamentalist fugitives #MartinaBurke and #AmmiBurke are nowhere to be seen. The duo are sentenced to a fortnight of imprisonment for #ContemptOfCourt, like Ammi's brother #EnochBurke who is held indefinitely held for repeated #trespass.
#JusticeCregan called it a "family circus". Who wants to be caught up in that?
Report by Áine Ryan in The #IrishTimes: https://archive.is/qDld5 /https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/03/05/in-burke-country-many-people-have-a-lot-of-time-for-the-family-but-want-to-keep-their-heads-down/
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In #Castlebar, few people want to go on the record about the #BurkeFamily.
The town's fundamentalist fugitives #MartinaBurke and #AmmiBurke are nowhere to be seen. The duo are sentenced to a fortnight of imprisonment for #ContemptOfCourt, like Ammi's brother #EnochBurke who is held indefinitely held for repeated #trespass.
#JusticeCregan called it a "family circus". Who wants to be caught up in that?
Report by Áine Ryan in The #IrishTimes: https://archive.is/qDld5 /https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/03/05/in-burke-country-many-people-have-a-lot-of-time-for-the-family-but-want-to-keep-their-heads-down/
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In #Castlebar, few people want to go on the record about the #BurkeFamily.
The town's fundamentalist fugitives #MartinaBurke and #AmmiBurke are nowhere to be seen. The duo are sentenced to a fortnight of imprisonment for #ContemptOfCourt, like Ammi's brother #EnochBurke who is held indefinitely held for repeated #trespass.
#JusticeCregan called it a "family circus". Who wants to be caught up in that?
Report by Áine Ryan in The #IrishTimes: https://archive.is/qDld5 /https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/03/05/in-burke-country-many-people-have-a-lot-of-time-for-the-family-but-want-to-keep-their-heads-down/
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In #Castlebar, few people want to go on the record about the #BurkeFamily.
The town's fundamentalist fugitives #MartinaBurke and #AmmiBurke are nowhere to be seen. The duo are sentenced to a fortnight of imprisonment for #ContemptOfCourt, like Ammi's brother #EnochBurke who is held indefinitely held for repeated #trespass.
#JusticeCregan called it a "family circus". Who wants to be caught up in that?
Report by Áine Ryan in The #IrishTimes: https://archive.is/qDld5 /https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/03/05/in-burke-country-many-people-have-a-lot-of-time-for-the-family-but-want-to-keep-their-heads-down/
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3 of the #BurkeFamily now in prison. https://archive.is/SIeBx #IrishTimes
Jailed teacher #EnochBurke’s mother Martina and sister Ammi were in contempt of court by their behaviour during a hearing on 20th February. Both were imprisoned for 2 weeks.
Justice Brian Cregan called for an end to the Burke “family circus”. He intends to formally complain to the Law Society about solicitor Ammi Burke; and that Ammi, Martina & Isaac Burke may only attend future court hearings remotely.
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European #fascism drew heavily on the symbolism, techniques, and goals of the #USA's rightwing. #FintanOToole eloquently punctures the myth that fascism is a European concept misapplied to American politics.
#oToole is well past his peak, but this is is an important framing of #Trump and #MAGA.
Podcast available at:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-politics-with-hugh-linehan/id794389685
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MF6fZ8iLrwvVsq59xFX1k?si=oVgXsg_mR2OXdABd2C21ag
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#SeamusCulleton 🇮🇪 (originally from #Glemore, County #Kilkenny) is in a #Texas concentration camp since Sept 2025
Lived in the U.S. with his American with for 20 years. Absolutely no criminal record.
Avoid going to the U.S. if you can
See post of the #IrishTimes article above
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One of the basic skills of a #diplomat is the ability to converse well in the official language of your host country. Now, after 86 years of British diplomatic missions to Ireland, the 25th British head of mission can actually speak Irish.
This should have been the case from the outset. But instead, The #IrishTimes fawns over British Ambassador Kara Owens as if she was some kind of wonderwoman 🤮🤮 ... rather than the first in that job to have manners.
screenshot from https://archive.is/zKvHo
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In the #HighCourt #IEHC, Mr Justice Brian Cregan has been getting tough with #EnochBurke and his #BurkeFamily of disruptors.
Cregan's firmness was much needed, but I was worried that it might be the start of a wider harshness from the judiciary. Sadly, that seems to be happening. 😞
The president of the High Court, Mr Justice David Barniville, tells Fiachra Gallagher of the #IrishTimes what's planned.
Paywalled original: https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2025/12/19/judges-deserve-more-credit-for-their-handling-of-planning-cases-says-high-court-president/
Archived full text: https://archive.is/SuB7E
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Irish politicians represent Ireland in the #EU. But #FineGael's eurobrains tell #Ireland to shut up. 😡
Dr #EoinDrea's #IrishTimes op-ed tells Ireland to #STFU about #genocide in #Gaza, #EUmilitarization, & #IrishNeutrality. Drea calis Irish policy a "hot mess of uncoordinated gibberish".
Drea says Ireland's 2026 #EUpresidency should "focus on process, not content". In other words: No policy goals for Paddy!
#FG wants Ireland to be a servant of France & Germany. #iepol
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Irish politicians represent Ireland in the #EU. But #FineGael's eurobrains tell #Ireland to shut up. 😡
Dr #EoinDrea's #IrishTimes op-ed tells Ireland to #STFU about #genocide in #Gaza, #EUmilitarization, & #IrishNeutrality. Drea calis Irish policy a "hot mess of uncoordinated gibberish".
Drea says Ireland's 2026 #EUpresidency should "focus on process, not content". In other words: No policy goals for Paddy!
#FG wants Ireland to be a servant of France & Germany. #iepol
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75% of #Irishpeople support #Irishneutrality.
#CatherineConnolly's clear support for undiluted #neutrality was a big factor in her landslide victory in the #Aras25 presidential election.
Ireland's centrist media runs a propaganda barrage against neutrality. This is a rare case of 3 Irish academics being allowed in The #IrishTimes to make a pro-neutrality case: Patrick Bresnihan, Niamh Ní Bhriain, and Rory Rowan. #TheIrishTimes #iepol
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025/11/16/opinion-neutrality-matters-to-irish-people-lets-stop-deriding-it/ / https://archive.is/ucgNK
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A frivolous but entertaining reminder of the murderous history of #BritishMonarchy. Beheading, drownings, suffocation, and worse. Ex-#PrinceAndrew whines, but he is getting off very lightly. #IrishTimes
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025/11/08/worldview-andrew-windsor-should-be-thanking-his-lucky-stars-instead-of-feeling-sorry-for-himself/ or unpaywalled at https://archive.is/jE1oi
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Aw, bless 😀 The #TikTokTanaiste has taken up comedy. 😂🤣
Heather Humphreys’s campaign is growing “day by day”, Tánaiste #SimonHarris has said, as he rejected a suggestion she was doomed. 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣#CatherineConnollyForPresident has almost double Heather Humphreys's share in the opinion polls. Even the #IrishTimes acknowledges that only an "earthquake" would defeat Connolly.
screenshot from https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/10/17/presidential-election-live-catherine-connolly-and-heather-humphreys-face-next-debate/#54232
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Is there a weekly quota for the #IrishTimes to use the word #woke in a headline?
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Yer man in the #IrishTimes podcast mispronouncing cajones 😖
It's not pronounced Ka-joan-ays
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THREAD: Pat Leahy in the #IrishTimes is right. Politics is hard, and bruising. People who haven't seen it up close rarely grasp just how tough.
But #JimGavin was chosen as #FiannaFail candidate for #Aras25 by #MicheálMartin, who is one of Ireland's most experienced politicians. Micheál has been a public representative for 40 years, a candidate in 11 elections, and as a #TD he has been involved in another dozen elections.
>>
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Fintan O'Toole is a liberal rather a lefty, but he is a social democratic liberal rather than a classical liberal. So there was hope that the doyen of Irish columnists would show some sympathy with Connolly's views.
But instead, the mighty O'Toole has thrown his lot in unequivocally with #TheIrishTimes's strident loyalty to the EU's militarism. :(
Paywalled original: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025/09/30/fintan-otoole-catherine-connolly-should-try-to-keep-her-inner-basil-fawlty-under-wraps/
Archived full text: https://archive.is/fD6RL
#IrishTimes #FintanOToole #CatherineConnolly #Aras25 -
Robert Redford quote:
“I was not interested in the red, white and blue part of America,” Redford told NPR’s Terry Gross. “I was interested in the grey part where complexity lies.”
In a 'correspondents section' article by Maureen Dowd, written Sept 21, 2025, published by the Irish Times online.
It's a very thought-provoking statement.
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A really nice article about ZorinOS and Linux in general was published today in the Irish Times, starts with a car metaphor. You have to buy a new one… well, or you install Linux.
#endof10 #irishtimes #zorinos #linux :omya_windows:
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/08/28/windows-10-support-shutdown-offers-window-of-opportunity-for-a-linux-os-developed-in-dublin/ -
From the #IrishTimes
It’s not often world leaders display personal frailties the way Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer did
Admissions of overwhelm show humanity, if people in charge are strategic with their weaknessesThe humanity of letting people go hungry or not afford to heat their homes.
Cry me a river.
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📚 Literarisch reisen 📚
Liebt ihr es auch, literarische Orte aufzusuchen? Ob Romanschauplätze, Wohnhäuser von Lieblings-Autorinnen und -Autoren, deren Grabstätten oder sonstwie mit ihrem Leben und Schreiben verbundene Lokalitäten. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-style/travel/2025/06/16/bookish-breaks-get-inspired-with-these-literary-destinations-from-castletownshend-to-the-french-riveria/
#LesenMachtGlücklich #lesen #reisen #Ferien #LiteraturReisen #LiteraryTravel #IrishTimes
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Hugh Linehan does a good job of drawing insights out of Helen Lewis on her new book about what is and what isn't 'political genius'.
https://shows.acast.com/inside-politics-2/episodes/the-myth-of-genius-helen-lewis
#Podcasts #Ireland #IrishTimes #HughLinehan #HelenLewis #Genius
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Blue Sky Research in Ireland
There’s a new piece in the Irish Times (sponsored by the recently formed Research Ireland, but probably behind a paywall) that makes promising noises about “Blue Skies” research. No jokes about the Irish weather, please. I quote:
The merger of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) to form Research Ireland on August 1st, 2024, has opened up new possibilities and opportunities for the Irish research community. The new organisation now oversees competitive research funding across all disciplines, ranging from the arts, humanities and social sciences through to science, technology, engineering and maths, as well as across the full spectrum spanning curiosity-driven to applied research.
“SFI was enterprise and Stem-focused,” explains Research Ireland deputy chief executive Dr Ciarán Seoighe. “The IRC was not set up on a statutory basis so that meant that the arts, humanities and social sciences [AHSS] were not in the statutory research funding system. That put us behind other countries. We weren’t getting the full benefit of research in those areas. By creating Research Ireland we are able to support the full spectrum.”
He also points out that SFI wasn’t able to fund blue-skies, fundamental research, but Research Ireland can. “We need that research to create the new ideas and innovations that become applied research in years to come. By creating Research Ireland, we now have the ability to tap into and unlock the full potential of research in Ireland.”
The last bit is encouraging – or at least less discouraging – for those of us who work in fundamental science than the previous regime. The thing that struck me immediately when arriving in Ireland from the UK that funding for basic or fundamental research – especially in the sciences – is extremely poor. That is still the case now. This situation is largely the result of a high-level report published in 2012. This identified 14 priority areas of research that are most likely to give demonstrable economic and societal return, and where Ireland should focus the majority of competitive funding. Four criteria were used in selecting the 14 priority areas for future, competitively-awarded investment for economic objectives:
- the area is associated with a large global market or markets in which Irish-based enterprises already compete or can realistically compete;
- publicly performed R&D in Ireland is required to exploit the area and will complement private sector research and innovation in Ireland;
- Ireland has built or is building (objectively measured) strengths in research disciplines relevant to the area; and,
- the area represents an appropriate approach to a recognized national challenge and/or a global challenge to which Ireland should respond.
The `vast majority’ of SFI’s funding was directed towards the 14 areas so defined, leaving virtually nothing for anything else, an outcome which has dire implications for `blue skies’ research.
I think this is a deeply misguided short-term policy, which has had and will continue to have strongly negative effects on science in Ireland in the medium to long term, especially because Ireland spends so little of its GDP on research in the first place. There’s simply no point in trying to persuade world-leading researchers to come to Ireland if insufficient funds are available to enable them to establish here; the politicians’ welcoming platitudes will never be enough. This makes appointment of world-class researchers to Irish universities extremely difficult so, given that is what we are trying to do in Maynooth now, the change of tone is welcome.
The problem is that the creation of Research Ireland has not involved any more money that was previous allocated to the SFI and IRC separately. Unless there is a budget uplift – which in my view would be a good use for at least part of the huge windfall tax from Apple – any increase in basic research will have to be offset by cuts elsewhere.
It seems appropriate re-iterate part of my response to a previous funding crisis in the UK, about using taxpayer’s money to fund research in universities:
… “commercially useful” research should not be funded by the taxpayer through research grants. If it’s going to pay off in the short term it should be funded by private investors, venture capitalists of some sort or perhaps through some form of National Investment Bank. When the public purse is so heavily constrained, it should only be asked to fund those things that can’t in practice be funded any other way. That means long-term, speculative, curiosity driven research.
This is pretty much the opposite of what Irish government thinks. It wants to concentrate public funds in projects that can demonstrate immediate commercial potential. Taxpayer’s money used in this way ends up in the pockets of entrepreneurs if the research succeeds and, if it doesn’t, the grant has not fulfilled its stated objectives and the funding has therefore, by its own standards, been wasted.
My proposal, therefore, would be to phase out research grants for groups that want to concentrate on commercially motivated research and replace them with research loans. If the claims they make to secure the advance are justified, they should have no problem repaying the funds from the profits they make from patent income or other forms of exploitation. If not, then they will have to pay back the loan from their own funds (as well as being exposed as bullshit merchants). In the current economic situation the loans could be made at very low interest rates and still save a huge amount of the current research budget. I suggest these loans should be repayable in 3-5 years, so in the long term this scheme would be self-financing. I think a large fraction of research in, e.g., the applied sciences and engineering should be funded in this way. I think it is wrong to nationalise the risk only to privatise the profits.
The money saved by replacing grants to commercially driven research groups with loans could be re-invested in those areas where public investment is really needed, such as purely curiosity-driven science. Here grants are needed because the motivation for the research is different. Much of it does, in fact, lead to commercial spin-offs, and when that happens it is a very good thing, but these are likely to appear only in the very long term. But just because this research does not have an immediate commercial benefit does not mean that it has no benefit. For one thing, it is subjects such as Astronomy and Particle Physics that inspire young people to get interested in science in the first place.
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Blue Sky Research in Ireland
There’s a new piece in the Irish Times (sponsored by the recently formed Research Ireland, but probably behind a paywall) that makes promising noises about “Blue Skies” research. No jokes about the Irish weather, please. I quote:
The merger of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) to form Research Ireland on August 1st, 2024, has opened up new possibilities and opportunities for the Irish research community. The new organisation now oversees competitive research funding across all disciplines, ranging from the arts, humanities and social sciences through to science, technology, engineering and maths, as well as across the full spectrum spanning curiosity-driven to applied research.
“SFI was enterprise and Stem-focused,” explains Research Ireland deputy chief executive Dr Ciarán Seoighe. “The IRC was not set up on a statutory basis so that meant that the arts, humanities and social sciences [AHSS] were not in the statutory research funding system. That put us behind other countries. We weren’t getting the full benefit of research in those areas. By creating Research Ireland we are able to support the full spectrum.”
He also points out that SFI wasn’t able to fund blue-skies, fundamental research, but Research Ireland can. “We need that research to create the new ideas and innovations that become applied research in years to come. By creating Research Ireland, we now have the ability to tap into and unlock the full potential of research in Ireland.”
The last bit is encouraging – or at least less discouraging – for those of us who work in fundamental science than the previous regime. The thing that struck me immediately when arriving in Ireland from the UK that funding for basic or fundamental research – especially in the sciences – is extremely poor. That is still the case now. This situation is largely the result of a high-level report published in 2012. This identified 14 priority areas of research that are most likely to give demonstrable economic and societal return, and where Ireland should focus the majority of competitive funding. Four criteria were used in selecting the 14 priority areas for future, competitively-awarded investment for economic objectives:
- the area is associated with a large global market or markets in which Irish-based enterprises already compete or can realistically compete;
- publicly performed R&D in Ireland is required to exploit the area and will complement private sector research and innovation in Ireland;
- Ireland has built or is building (objectively measured) strengths in research disciplines relevant to the area; and,
- the area represents an appropriate approach to a recognized national challenge and/or a global challenge to which Ireland should respond.
The `vast majority’ of SFI’s funding was directed towards the 14 areas so defined, leaving virtually nothing for anything else, an outcome which has dire implications for `blue skies’ research.
I think this is a deeply misguided short-term policy, which has had and will continue to have strongly negative effects on science in Ireland in the medium to long term, especially because Ireland spends so little of its GDP on research in the first place. There’s simply no point in trying to persuade world-leading researchers to come to Ireland if insufficient funds are available to enable them to establish here; the politicians’ welcoming platitudes will never be enough. This makes appointment of world-class researchers to Irish universities extremely difficult so, given that is what we are trying to do in Maynooth now, the change of tone is welcome.
The problem is that the creation of Research Ireland has not involved any more money that was previous allocated to the SFI and IRC separately. Unless there is a budget uplift – which in my view would be a good use for at least part of the huge windfall tax from Apple – any increase in basic research will have to be offset by cuts elsewhere.
It seems appropriate re-iterate part of my response to a previous funding crisis in the UK, about using taxpayer’s money to fund research in universities:
… “commercially useful” research should not be funded by the taxpayer through research grants. If it’s going to pay off in the short term it should be funded by private investors, venture capitalists of some sort or perhaps through some form of National Investment Bank. When the public purse is so heavily constrained, it should only be asked to fund those things that can’t in practice be funded any other way. That means long-term, speculative, curiosity driven research.
This is pretty much the opposite of what Irish government thinks. It wants to concentrate public funds in projects that can demonstrate immediate commercial potential. Taxpayer’s money used in this way ends up in the pockets of entrepreneurs if the research succeeds and, if it doesn’t, the grant has not fulfilled its stated objectives and the funding has therefore, by its own standards, been wasted.
My proposal, therefore, would be to phase out research grants for groups that want to concentrate on commercially motivated research and replace them with research loans. If the claims they make to secure the advance are justified, they should have no problem repaying the funds from the profits they make from patent income or other forms of exploitation. If not, then they will have to pay back the loan from their own funds (as well as being exposed as bullshit merchants). In the current economic situation the loans could be made at very low interest rates and still save a huge amount of the current research budget. I suggest these loans should be repayable in 3-5 years, so in the long term this scheme would be self-financing. I think a large fraction of research in, e.g., the applied sciences and engineering should be funded in this way. I think it is wrong to nationalise the risk only to privatise the profits.
The money saved by replacing grants to commercially driven research groups with loans could be re-invested in those areas where public investment is really needed, such as purely curiosity-driven science. Here grants are needed because the motivation for the research is different. Much of it does, in fact, lead to commercial spin-offs, and when that happens it is a very good thing, but these are likely to appear only in the very long term. But just because this research does not have an immediate commercial benefit does not mean that it has no benefit. For one thing, it is subjects such as Astronomy and Particle Physics that inspire young people to get interested in science in the first place.
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35,000 odd deaths last year so at €100 a pop that's a nice, and climbing, €3,500,000 in predictable revenue for the Irish Times. Coupled with the myhome.ie revenues generated by listing the houses of the dead the IT is probably the most profitable operator in Ireland's death industry.
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/1217/1487048-rip-death-notice-price/
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[09:01] 35% say the standard of living is worse now - Exit Poll
More than one in three people who took part in the RTÉ, Irish Times, TG4 and Trinity College Dublin Exit Poll carried out by Ipsos B&A immediately after voting yesterday said their standard of living has worsened over the past year, while just over one in 10 said it has improved.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1130/1483886-standard-of-living-has-worsened-in-past-year-exit-poll/
#Morethanone #three #RTÉ #IrishTimes #TG4 #TrinityCollegeDublinExitPoll #IpsosB&A #yesterday #thepastyear #justoverone #10
