Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 6, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:
"Amendment of section 14 of the Act of 2003
6. Section 14 of the Act of 2003 is amended by adding a new subsection after subsection (3):"(4) Where the Director General has responsibilities outside of the work of the Foundation assigned to him or her by the Government in relation to science policy the Director General shall publish an annual statement of such activities as he or she shall undertake in accordance with these additional responsibilities.".".

I am aware the director general is also the chief scientific adviser. As director general he is superb and brings an enthusiasm to the role that energises everybody who meets him about science and its potential. As he is being made chief scientific adviser, he has an overarching role. He has to look at how Science Foundation Ireland is operating. He almost has to assess himself and assess his organisation to be the chief scientific adviser. We will want to see how he fulfils that role. While not personalising the issue, maybe this is going to be the policy in the future where the head of Science Foundation Ireland is also the chief scientific adviser. The least he should be required to provide is a separate statement on his role as chief scientific adviser, pointing out the issues encountered, something he would have done in any event if the roles were still independent. It is not for Professor Ferguson but any future incumbent who may have other governmental responsibilities as well as being director general of Science Foundation Ireland.