Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
1074. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how transparency, international competitiveness and peer review excellence will be ensured across disciplines in Taighde Éireann and be monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3719/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTaighde Éireann - Research Ireland supports research across all disciplines though a diverse portfolio of funding programmes, providing opportunities for researchers across the spectrum of their career journey. Transparency, international competitiveness and peer review excellence is ensured through the robust, independent and globally leading review processes that inform the agency's decision making.
As the first means of maintaining standards of excellence, any application for funding can only be submitted to Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland by an Eligible Research Body on behalf of a researcher (typically their employer), as per the Research and Innovation Act 2024. This ensures the legitimacy of the application, the researcher’s status, and their affiliations, and moreover, confirms that all parties, if successful, will be willing and able to comply with Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland’s Grant Terms & Conditions, which include certian binding clauses concerning Research Integrity and compliance with the relevant national and European codes.
All applications for funding are subject to peer/merit review by external subject matter experts. As part of their evaluation of a proposal for funding and an applicant’s track record, reviewers can raise concerns, which may be addressed by the applicant and their Eligible Research Body, if required. Where concerns are not satisfactorily addressed, the relevant details will inform the final funding decision.
Research Ireland does not permit use of any generative AI tools in the review of grant applications. Under the Research Ireland Reviewer Code of Conduct and Confidentiality Statement, reviewers must not input any unpublished material from any programme they are asked to review into any generative AI tools. Reviewers must undertake all activities in their personal capacity and must not use generative AI tools to undertake any such activities or parts thereof.
When a grant is awarded, a letter of offer is issued, typically to the President of the Eligible Research Body, copying the successful researcher, and both parties must sign the grant acceptance certificate, denoting their acceptance of the grant, the associated budget, and confirming that they will comply with the Grant Terms & Conditions, which includes clauses concerning both financial and research governance, and a commitment to comply with Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland policies.
