University Statements

An scéal is deireanaí maidir leis an rannpháirtíocht in Asterisk, tionscadal taighde faoin gclár Fís Eorpach atá maoinithe ag an gCoimisiún Eorpach - Bealtaine 2026

Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith linn a rá arís go bhfuil an cinedhíothú in Gaza á cháineadh againn; go bhfuil luachanna na hinstitiúide seo bunaithe ar chearta daonna; agus go dtugaimid aitheantas don diongbháilteacht agus do na mothúcháin láidre i measc ár bpobail.

Anuas air sin, tá sé mar thosaíocht ag an bhfoireann bainistíochta aghaidh a thabhairt ar an imní faoi rannpháirtíocht na hOllscoile in Asterisk, tionscadal taighde faoin gclár Fís Eorpach atá maoinithe ag an gCoimisiún Eorpach.

Déanaimid cáineadh scun scan ar ghníomhartha stát Iosrael agus ar an ndroch-chaoi ar caitheadh le agus ar gabhadh gan chúis na feachtasóirí síochánta, daonnúla, sibhialtacha a bhí ar bhord an Chabhlacháin Sumud go Gaza, lena n-áirítear mac léinn dár gcuid, Louise McCormack agus céimí dár gcuid, an Dr Margaret Connolly.

Ón ráiteas deireanach a rinneamar, leanamar lenár rannpháirtíocht le hinstitiúidí eile cosúil linne atá ag déileáil le socruithe mar seo faoin gclár Fís Eorpach agus atá ina gcomhpháirtithe ceannais. Tá na constaicí suntasacha céanna, atá dosháraithe go fóill, os a gcomhair ar leibhéal an AE agus iad ag iarraidh comhpháirtíochtaí a athrú.

Dhiúltaigh an AE an Comhaontú Comhpháirtíochta idir an AE agus Iosrael a chur ar fionraí, rud a chuireann ar chumas Iosrael a bheith rannpháirteach sa chlár Fís Eorpach, in ainneoin achomhairc ónár rialtas féin agus ó rialtas na Spáinne agus na Slóivéine. Is amhlaidh an scéal fós nach bhfuil aon mheicníocht ann chun gníomh aontaobhach a dhéanamh chun deireadh a chur le ról ceannais i dtionscadal taighde faoin gclár Fís Eorpach gan oibleagáidí dlíthiúla agus eile a shárú. Dá ndéanfaí a leithéid bheadh tionchar ollmhór aige ar an Ollscoil trí chéile seachas ar thionscadal taighde amháin.

Rinneamar teagmháil arís leis an gCoimisiún Eorpach, an uair seo le heolas a bhailigh ár gcomhghleacaithe in Ionad na hÉireann do Chearta an Duine. Táimid ag fanacht le freagra.

Táimid gníomhach inár ngealltanas nach gcuirfear aon chomhaontuithe taighde institiúideacha nua le comhpháirtithe Iosraelacha ar aghaidh lena bhfaomhadh ná nach n-aontófar a leithéid. Diúltaíodh comhpháirtíochtaí féideartha i gcomhréir leis seo.

Leanaimid orainn ag déanamh idirdhealú idir gníomhartha rialtas Iosrael agus gníomhartha mhuintir Iosrael agus táimid ag obair go dian lena chinntiú go bhfuil ár gcampas fáilteach agus measúil ar an bpobal ar fad.

Mar fhocal scoir, gabhaimid buíochas leo siúd ar fad a raibh plé acu linn ar an ábhar seo.

Update on participation in Asterisk, a European Commission-funded Horizon Europe research project - May 2026 

At the outset, we reiterate our condemnation of the genocide in Gaza; our values as an institution and their foundation in human rights; and our recognition of the strength of conviction and depth of feeling across our community.

Furthermore, addressing concerns about the University’s involvement in Asterisk, a European Commission-funded Horizon Europe research project, is a priority for our management team.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of the Israeli state and the abhorrent treatment and arbitrary detention of peaceful, humanitarian, civilian campaigners on the Gaza Sumud Flotilla, including our student Louise McCormack and our graduate Dr Margaret Connolly.

Since our last statement, we have continued our engagement with peer institutions who are dealing with similar research partnership arrangements who have advised us of the same significant and as yet insurmountable obstacles at EU level in seeking to have a partner withdraw from Horizon research partnerships.

The EU has declined to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement, which enables Israel’s participation in Horizon Europe, despite appeals from our own government and those of Spain and Slovenia. It remains the case at this time that there is no mechanism to take unilateral action to terminate a lead role in a Horizon Europe research project without breaching legal and other obligations. To do so would result in significant consequences to the University beyond an individual research project.

We have again engaged with the European Commission, this time with information compiled by our colleagues in the Irish Centre for Human Rights. We await a response.

We are active in our commitment that no new institutional research agreements involving Israeli partners will be submitted for approval or agreed to. Potential partnerships have been refused in line with this.

We continue to separate the actions of the Israeli government to those of its people and are working hard to ensure our campus remains welcoming and respectful to our entire community.

Finally, we thank all those who have engaged with us on this issue.

The following is an edited transcript of the All-Staff Meeting/Cruinniú don Fhoireann Uile Tuesday March 31, 2026

Professor David Burn, President of University of Galway, addressed the meeting in relation to questions about the Asterisk research project.

“I absolutely understand the depth of feeling and the passion that everybody has about this situation. I think the specific question that was asked, which some of you, many of you, may not be aware of actually, because it's only just surfaced in the last 24 hours, is that there are a number of universities that are almost ahead of us in terms of their position and their lobbying with the EU, in terms of trying to extricate themselves from grants that have involved Israeli partners.

“A particular question related to a university called Ghent, who are obviously a partner with us in the Enlight partnership. After a long period of time, Ghent, as a minor partner in a grant that has involved an Israeli partner, have gone online and (announced on March 27th https://www.ugent.be/en/news-events/withdrawal-ghent-university-osteonet.htm that they have) managed to extricate themselves from that arrangement.

(Vice-President EDI) “Helen Maher has worked tirelessly in this space of the relationship with Technion. She's been a huge support to me since I started. She has done her damnedest to engage with relevant groups, both internally and externally, and that has included going across to Ghent (university) to explore and discuss mechanisms and how they are approaching the situation.

“What I'm going to say at this point is that it is far too early to make any kind of parallels or commitments. We need to do some more fact finding about this. But it does give us some source of positivity, in terms of how we move forward. But we're not just sitting back on that option. And if you read the statement that we put online, we talked about engagement with the EU Commission. They have left a door open, if you will.

“I will also say that I know that the letter, the open letter from the colleagues in the Irish Centre for Human Rights, an extremely highly regarded group. We've had a fantastic interaction with Siobhan and several of her colleagues. Through information and through details that they very kindly provided, we will be going back to the European Commission.

So, there are several processes in play here to try to try and tackle this problem, which I know we all feel very deeply about and it, you know, it is ongoing. I absolutely get that.

“Even though I know there have been gaps in communication, and I would suggest that occasionally some people have filled the voids with misinformation, we will do our best to communicate more openly going forward to keep you updated as to how we're getting on. So, I've gone a little bit more because I knew this was going to come up and I'm not one to shirk things. I'm very willing to be open as much as possible with you all.

“Clearly, there are huge sensitivities here, which we must be respectful of. But I just want you to know that we continue to move forward. This is not a case of sort of, phew, got rid of that question - let's just keep our heads down. There is significant work going on in the background and this has been the case since the 8th of September when I started. Thank you.”

An Scéal is Deireanaí maidir le Tionscadal Asterisk ó Fhoireann Bainistíochta na hOllscoile Feabhra 2026

An tÁbhar Imní a Aithint 

 Aithníonn an Ollscoil an t-ábhar imní atá curtha in iúl maidir lenár rannpháirtíocht in Asterisk, ar tionscadal taighde faoin gclár Fís Eorpach é arna mhaoiniú ag an gCoimisiún Eorpach. Aithnímid chomh maith mothúcháin láidre phobal na hOllscoile i ndáil leis an gcinedhíothú in Gaza agus an míshuaimhneas ba shiocair leis. Tá ár gcuid luachanna mar institiúid fréamhaithe sa mheas atá againn ar chearta idirnáisiúnta an duine agus ar an dlí daonnúil, agus aithnímid a dhiongbháilte a gcloíonn ár bhfoireann, ár gcuid mac léinn agus an pobal níos leithne leis na luachanna sin. 

 Tiomantas don Chuimsitheacht agus don Mheas 

Cáinimid, mar ollscoil, an cinedhíothú atá déanta ar mhuintir Gaza ar an gcaoi chéanna is a gcáinimd marú na ndaoine siúd an 7 Deireadh Fómhair 2023.  

Cé go dtacaímid leis na smachtbhannaí atá molta i dtaca le hIosrael, táimid chomh tiomanta céanna tacú leis na hIosraelaigh agus na Giúdaigh atá anseo linn agus cinntiú go mbeidh an campas seo ina áit ina léirítear meas, ina mothaíonn daoine sábháilte agus ina gcothaítear muintearas. Níl aon fháilte san ollscoil seo roimh fhrith-Sheimíteachas, agus táimid tiomanta i gcónaí timpeallacht chuimsitheach a chothú do chách.  

Rannpháirtíocht i dTionscadal Asterisk 

Tá baint ag Technion – Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Iosrael le Tionscadal Asterisk, mar aon le 11 chomhpháirtí Eorpach eile, agus Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ina ceannaire tionscadail. Tá an tionscadal á chómhaoiniú ag an gComhpháirtíocht don Hidrigin Ghlan agus an Coimisiún Eorpach agus é ag féachaint le taighde a dhéanamh ar an bhféidearthacht hidrigin ghlas a tháirgeadh go díreach ó uisce sáile mar bheart chun an t-athrú aeráide a mhaolú. Aithníonn an Ollscoil go bhfuil go leor daoine laistigh den phobal den tuairim nach bhfuilimid, mar institiúid, ag cloí leis na caighdeáin atá leagtha amach againn dúinn féin a bhuíochas lenár rannpháirtíocht sa tionscadal seo. 

Laincisí Dlí agus AE 

Dúshlán don Ollscoil is ea rannpháirtíocht leanúnach ollscoileanna Iosrael i dtionscadail taighde ag leibhéal an Aontais Eorpaigh. Tá na céadta tionscadal taighde ann faoi choimirce an chláir Fís Eorpach a bhfuil maoiniú á bhfáil acu ón gCoimisiún Eorpach agus a bhfuil baint ag institiúidí Iosraelacha leo, agus ollscoileanna eile in Éirinn páirteach i roinnt acu. Tá institiúidí ardoideachais ag feidhmiú laistigh de chreat maoinithe nach ndéantar foráil ann d'fhoirceannadh aontaobhach ag comhpháirtí aonair gan dualgais chonartha agus mhaoinithe a shárú. An toradh a bheadh air sin go mbeadh iarmhairtí suntasacha ann don Ollscoil nach mbeadh teoranta do thionscadal taighde aonair. Cuirtear leis an deacracht sa mhéid is gur príomhpháirtí muid i dtionscadal Asterisk. Tá teagmháil déanta ag an Ollscoil le hinstitiúidí Eorpacha a bhfuil baint acu le comhpháirtíochtaí den saghas céanna, lena n-áirítear cinn a d'fhiosraigh roghanna scoir go poiblí leis an gCoimisiún Eorpach ach nár éirigh leis na hiarrachtaí sin. Má athraíonn an Coimisiún Eorpach a sheasamh maidir le maoiniú an chláir Fís Eorpach d'institiúidí Iosraelacha, thabharfadh sé sin níos mó scóip dúinn gníomhú ar bhonn aontaobhach.  

 Gníomhartha Leanúnacha 

Rinne Ollscoil na Gaillimhe éileamh cheana go rachfaí i mbun gníomh i ndáil le Comhaontú Comhlachais idir an tAE agus Iosrael, arb é a ligeann d'Iosrael a bheith páirteach sa chlár Fís Eorpach.  Is measa fós an easpa treorach de bharr nach dtacaíonn Parlaimint na hEorpa le rochtain Iosrael ar mhaoiniú taighde ón AE a chur ar fionraí. Tá na cinntí sin le déanamh ag na leibhéil is airde den Choimisiún Eorpach. Tá scríofa go díreach againn chuig an gCoimisiún Eorpach agus leanfaimid orainn ag éileamh go rachfaí i mbun gníomh cuí, agus san áireamh leis sin bheadh maoiniú taighde d'institiúidí Iosraelacha a chur ar fionraí. 

Díreoidh Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar na réimsí siúd inar féidir léi difear fiúntach agus láithreach a dhéanamh, lena n-áirítear tacú le hatógáil na hearnála ardoideachais in Gaza trí dul i gcomhar le hacadóirí na Palaistíine agus tacaíocht scoláireachta a thabhairt do thaighdeoirí agus do mhic léinn.   Táimid tiomanta tacú le mic léinn agus le comhaltaí foirne a n-imríonn na himeachtaí seo tionchar orthu go díreach nó go hindíreach. 

 Cinneadh maidir le Comhpháirtíochtaí sa Todhchaí 

I bhfianaise na géarchéime daonnúla leanúnaí in Gaza, déanann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe an tiomantas a thug sí in 2025 a athdhearbhú: nach gcuirfear isteach aon chomhaontú nua taighde institiúideach a bhfuil comhpháirtithe Iosraelacha i gceist leis go díreach le aghaidh a fhaofa, nó nach n-aontófar air.  Tá an cinneadh sin fréamhaithe i bhfreagracht na hOllscoile a chinntiú nach gcuireann a comhpháirtíochtaí le sáruithe den dlí idirnáisiúnta, nó nach mbeidh baint aici leo, agus léiríonn sé sin ár dtiomantas do thaighde eiticiúil agus freagrach atá ag teacht lenár luachanna.   

An Bóthar Chun Cinn 

Gabhann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe buíochas leo siúd ar fad a bhfuil teagmháil déanta acu le ceannaireacht na hinstitiúde maidir leis an tsaincheist seo. Léiríonn sé go bhfuil an ceartas agus cearta an duine lárnach sa phlé seo. Tá an Ollscoil tiomanta bealach chun cinn a mbeidh na luachanna sin lárnach ann a aimsiú le chéile. 

Update on the Asterisk Project from the University Management Team February 2026 

 Acknowledging Concerns 

 The University acknowledges the concerns raised about our participation in Asterisk, a European Commission-funded Horizon Europe research project. We also recognise the depth of feeling across our community in relation to the genocide in Gaza and the distress it is causing. Our values as an institution are firmly grounded in respect for international human rights and humanitarian law, and we recognise the strength of conviction with which these values are held by our staff, students and wider community. 

 Commitment to Inclusion and Respect 

As a university, we condemn the genocide which has been inflicted on the people of Gaza, in the same way we condemn the loss of life on October 7^th 2023.  

While we support proposed sanctions in relation to Israel, we are equally committed to supporting Israeli and Jewish members of our community and to ensuring that our campus remains a place of respect, safety and belonging. There is no place for antisemitism within our university, and we remain committed to fostering an inclusive environment for everyone. 

 Participation in the Asterisk Project 

The Asterisk research project involves Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, alongside 11 European partners, with University of Galway acting as lead. The project, co-funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and the European Commission, focuses on researching the possibility of the production of green hydrogen directly from seawater, with a view to mitigating climate change. The University recognises that participation in this project has caused many within our community to feel that, as an institution, we have fallen short of standards to which we aspire. 

 Legal and EU Constraints 

 A challenge facing the University arises from the continued involvement of Israeli universities in research projects at a European Union level. There are hundreds of European Commission-funded Horizon Europe research projects involving Israeli institutions, some of which involve other universities in Ireland. Higher education institutions are operating within a funding framework that does not provide a mechanism for unilateral termination by a single partner without breaching contractual and funding obligations, resulting in significant consequences to the University beyond an individual research project. Our position is further complicated by our role as lead partner in the Asterisk project.

 The University has engaged with European institutions involved in similar collaborations, including those that have publicly yet unsuccessfully explored options with the European Commission for disengagement. If the European Commission changes its position in respect of Horizon Europe funding for Israeli institutions, this would allow greater scope for unilateral action.  

 Ongoing Actions 

 University of Galway has previously called for guidance regarding the EU–Israel Association Agreement, which enables Israel’s participation in Horizon Europe. The lack of direction is compounded by the European Parliament not supporting the suspension of Israel’s access to EU research funding. These decisions rest at the highest levels of the European Commission. We have written directly to the European Commission and will continue to advocate for appropriate action, including consideration of suspending research funding to Israeli institutions. 

 University of Galway will focus on areas where it can make a meaningful and immediate difference including supporting the rebuilding of higher education in Gaza through collaboration with Palestinian academics and scholarship support for researchers and students.  We are committed to supporting students and staff who are directly or indirectly affected by these events. 

 Decision on Future Collaborations 

In light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, University of Galway reiterates a commitment previously given in 2025: that no new institutional research agreements involving direct Israeli partners will be submitted for approval or agreed to. This decision is grounded in the University’s responsibility to ensure that its partnerships do not contribute to, or become associated with, violations of international law, and reflects our commitment to ethical, responsible research and is consistent with our values.  

Moving Forward 

University of Galway thanks all those who have engaged with the institution’s leadership on this issue. It is a credit to our community that justice and human rights have remained central to these engagements. The University is committed to finding a way forward together, with those values firmly at the centre of its work.