James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputy Donnelly, I also am concerned about research. I am concerned about Science Foundation Ireland and that there has been a 12.2% reduction in capital expenditure, which the Minister has highlighted in her report. That is a problem; it is not all positive by any means. In this area we talk about those up-going arrows, which are wonderful to see and a tribute to the hard work of many people. There is a down-going arrow, a drop of 8%, in patent applications. That trend, linked to the reduction in capital funding in Science Foundation Ireland, would indicate it having an impact. Patents in the pipeline and patent applications are signs of healthy research-based economic development.

Regarding what Deputy Donnelly said, I know from my previous role that there is always a challenge to transform research into jobs and economic gain, which we also want. We need to fund research and we need to have a return on that research. I agree with the Deputy on the problem with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I commend the Minister on addressing the problem with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding this inability within the current constraints to allow for the experience of people outside the normal criterion. We also had this problem in Oberstown when trying to attract people who had vast experience outside but were getting no credit for it and who were being asked to start at a level that made it impossible to recruit people. We must take into account international experience and expertise gained in the private sector when setting salary rates.

Is the Minister satisfied with the 12.2% reduction in expenditure on the 2015 Estimate? Is she satisfied that the right outcomes are being measured, given the time-lag between the investments we make and getting a product at the other end with a new innovation being made available to the marketplace?