Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The key point made by Mr. Crespo, the director general of the enterprise and industry directorate, when he was before the committee is the fact that it is not about research per sebut that it must lead to innovation and jobs. Are we changing our focus from what was in FP7 which was about research to get onto the treadmill so that if we are good at getting the treadmill going early we will have a better chance not alone of achieving the target of €1.25 billion but of going beyond it? I have visited the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, which is linking in with Athlone Institute of Technology, Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology. It has set a target of €20 million but it hopes to get more than that. Its focus includes the spin-off companies that emerge from the research.

It also made a very positive announcement last Thursday. Are we focused on the changes from FP7 to the jobs sought under Horizon 2020?