Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to respond quickly on the 70%. That figure was presented to this committee last year. I did not believe the figure so I examined it in detail. I met Science Foundation Ireland and I looked at how the money is being spent. The 70% is absolutely and categorically not being spent on basic research. The Minister has been given that figure but if he looks into how the money is actually spent he will find that nothing like 70% is being spent on basic research.