Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Some 150 academics have written an open letter criticising proposals made in the Croke Park agreement which they claim pose a serious threat to academic freedom. They state: "The right to permanency and tenure to retirement age is the bedrock on which academic freedom rests." We should not undermine academic freedom, given that some of the more important criticisms of what has occurred in this country in recent years have been made by people in academia rather than in the Oireachtas. It is important we protect their work.