Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 38:

In page 11, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following:

"(e) promote research and innovation which supports the health and wellbeing of individuals, groups and communities in the State, nationally and regionally, including through artistic, social, cultural and environmental development and sustainability, and, as may be appropriate, to do so in co-operation and collaboration with the bodies to which section 51 applies,".

The purpose of this amendment is to amend section 9(1)(c) to charge the agency with an additional specific function to promote research linked with economic, social, cultural and environmental development and sustainability.The Bill empowers the agency to function in support of all its objects, but certain subsections go on to describe in more detail the nature of the agency's commitments as it relates to the economic objects. As a result, it seems important that a specific function to promote research linked with economic, social, cultural and environmental development and sustainability should also be provided. This amendment would therefore ensure that the objects of the agency under section 8 are fully congruent in the functions of the agents provided for in section 9.