Irish scientists protest ‘funding apartheid’

This, from Nov. 2013, makes for interesting reading in the context of the article above: https://educationalstandards.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/more-questions-for-science-foundation-ireland-director-general/

A commendable initiative by the Irish colleagues. There will always be a tention between those who wish to see the attention of the researchers directed by the problems of the day and those who understand the value of scientific freedom. In my view, and as a general rule where exceptions are healthy, those remaining scientists who are free from bureaucracy and don't need to prostitute themselves by playing proposals to the tune of funders, tend to be content to contribute towards a social problem when someone approaches them for help.