Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The criterion is excellent science. A criterion of excellence exists in terms of how one funds research; it is the fundamental pillar for any funding call or new opportunity. One cannot discriminate between various geographical areas. If, for example, one wanted to fund into south Kerry it has to be based on the pillar of excellence; it cannot be because the funding call is from south Kerry. If one examines the calls and looks at where the money has been disbursed, what has been forced is a major collaboration between institutions that might not, historically, have collaborated with each other. I refer to the CLARITY and INSIGHT centres, for example, where DCU, UCD and NUIG are coming together, which is a significant investment in the area of data analytics. One also maps the industry engagement, which involves industry from all across the country, geographically speaking. The geographical indicator takes second place to the pillar of excellence. One has to fund excellent research regardless of where it comes from, geographically. I hope that makes sense.