Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Thank you very much, Professor Walsh. There is a good deal of material for consideration. This is one of three meetings of our committee today. Later today, we will meet the ambassadors of Ethiopia and Kenya. We will also meet representatives of the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, who are on a visit. The context is the British departure from the European Union. Britain has a good record in overseas development aid and reaching the target of 0.7% of GNP. We will raise the issue with the visiting representatives in the afternoon. We know from discussions with various members of the House of Commons and some members of the British Government that they are committed to continuing to co-operate at European Union level in respect of various aid programmes. That is important. When meeting the members of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee we will raise the issues with regard to our island and the difficulties that will emerge for us when Britain leaves the European Union. It is simply one of the many issues on the agenda of the committee today.

Professor Walsh, you have highlighted well the whole area of silo thinking in this country in all endeavours. For far too long, the academic world, the public service and the private sector have not worked together in collaboration or co-operation in the areas where they are needed. I saw that at first-hand in my limited experience of Government. We effected some changes but they are always slow to come about, unfortunately. People go off and do their own thing. There is unnecessary waste of public expenditure and duplication. We do not see the return for the taxpayer that there should be. In that context, universities are not bad at living in a silo world either. Aside from the public service - academics are public servants as well - what co-operation does UCD have with other universities in this country? I recall representatives from a particular department in UCC making a presentation to the committee some years ago with regard to programmes they were running. I know some of the masters programmes in Maynooth are very much focused on international co-operation. Is there enough synergy between the universities here? Does UCD have co-operation with the British universities in that respect? Will you elaborate, Professor Walsh, on the concern you expressed about funding going to British universities? You mentioned that it should stay here.

Committee members are aware and appreciative of the work of the former ambassador, Mr. David Donoghue in different roles in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. My first interaction with him was many years ago when he was on the then Anglo-Irish desk in the Department of Foreign Affairs. He was very much involved in the Northern Ireland talks. He contributed immensely to the progress made on the island. Perhaps we need to bring him back to have his input again with impasse.

Professor Walsh, you made reference to a referendum. Certain leaders in neighbouring islands put a referendum but I do not think they knew the answer although they posed the question. That could create certain difficulties. All committee members would have spoken in the past about getting the message across to the taxpayer about the effectiveness of Irish Aid as well as the extraordinary work and the benefits that accrue from relatively small funding. When there are catastrophes and crises the Irish public respond exceptionally well. All of us, especially those of us who grew up in rural communities, are aware of missionaries, religious and lay, who did such good work in the most deprived communities before our overseas demand programme. There was awareness at local level with regard to that work. We need to create greater awareness before we go for a referendum. The last thing we want is a referendum seeking approval only to have it rejected. I advise caution in that respect unless a great deal of work is done in the meantime. Will you refer to the questions on universities and silo thinking etc.?