Petition
Current Details
| Reference Number: | P00029/12 |
| Status: | Petition Closed |
| Name of Petitioner: | Dr Ciarán Mc Mahon |
| Petition Title: | Open access to publicly-funded research |
| Submitted By: | Individual |
| Petition Text: | This petition concerns research and science funding in Ireland.
Currently in Ireland, if someone would like to access the research which has been funded by the taxpayers, they generally have to pay an exorbitant fee. (e.g. €25 for this: http://www.springerlink.com/content/y175r6t9gky9cfwb/). Publishing companies make massive profits on the backs of these ridiculous mark-ups, for which the authors do not get paid. Universities vary by the number of subscriptions to journals which they hold, but beyond that, access to taxpayer-funded research is very limited.
The alternative are 'open-access' journals which anyone can access freely (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029081). The only problem is that authors must pay to a publication fee to such journals.
Recently the UK Minister for Science and Universities announced that government funded research will be made freely available to the public. This means that UK academics will only publish their work in these open-access journals. They have also earmarked a funding to ensure that the authors will be able to pay the publication fees. Such an innovation means that the UK taxpayer will be able to access all of the research which they have paid for (unlike now, when they literally have to pay for it twice). This move has since been backed by the European Commission.
I appeal to the Committee to have the Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills examine this matter, for the benefit of the public and the cost-effectiveness of our research spending. |
Historical Details
| 5) | Status: | Decision Of The Committee | | | Date: | 01 May 2013 | | 4) | Status: | Response From Department/Stakeholders/Ombudsman | | | Date: | 01 May 2013 | | 3) | Status: | For Consideration By Committee | | | Date: | 17 Oct 2012 | | 2) | Status: | Being Examined For Compliance With Standing Orders | | | Date: | 15 Oct 2012 | | 1) | Status: | Received | | | Date: | 14 Sep 2012 |
Published: 03 May 2013 16.27.51
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