Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am willing to look again at the issue on Report Stage but we must distinguish between the role of the chief scientific adviser and the director general of Science Foundation Ireland. The question is whether the chief scientific adviser has a role in interrogating or advising on Government policy because Government policy is determined by those who are given the mandate by the people to direct how policy is implemented, subject to advice, but not necessarily through the chief scientific adviser role. We are lucky that we have a chief scientific adviser and we have continued to keep that position in Ireland. As there are only about seven countries worldwide that have a chief scientific adviser, we are in a unique position given that we have been able to keep that role in spite of the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves. I understand the amendment and perhaps we need to examine it further. The appointment of the chief scientific adviser is co-terminous with his appointment as director general. The current arrangement will not always necessarily be the case. We can have a further discussion on the issue on Report Stage.