Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 4, lines 14 to 16, to delete all words from and including "or" in line 14 down to and including "practice" in line 16.

There is a concern that in extending the standard by which SFI will award funding to a more general "any other review process equivalent to relevant international best practice", we are watering down peer review. Peer review is a gold standard and stands up within the scientific community, doing what it states on the tin. A vague "any other review process equivalent to relevant international best practice" seems to open all sorts of avenues for consideration which may not have international standing or strength, particularly in the scientific community, of a peer review process. What are the Minister of State's thoughts on what will be involved in this alternative review process?