Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests and thank them for their comprehensive presentations. The combination of the presentations and the previous questions covers a lot of what I intended to ask about. I would like to thank the witnesses for opening their statements by mentioning opportunities. On this committee and outside of it we have all become accustomed to pessimism and negativity when we discuss Brexit. It was refreshing that all the witnesses endeavoured to start out with opportunities, but unfortunately they concluded on negativity and problems. I would like them to elaborate on those problems and to describe the feedback they get from deliberations with their counterparts in the UK and Europe. The witnesses seem to have their homework done and all their ducks in a row where Irish issues are concerned. They have highlighted where there may be problems. What is the reaction on the British side of bilateral communications that are held in anticipation of potential problems? To get back to where I started my comments, do they see the same issues or are they stuck on the opportunities? Have the witnesses encountered any problems in these communications? Is the British side in denial, taking the opportunistic approach or thinking it will be all right on the night? How have those discussions gone?

I presume Science Foundation Ireland has multilateral projects in which Ireland, the UK and other members of the EU 27 are equally involved. If the UK leaves the EU in the morning, how will these projects be affected? Turning to attitudes away from this island, how are the other members of the EU 27 approaching this and preparing for it? Do they perceive it to be as big an issue as we do?

Have universities noticed any difficulties in recruiting industries to their research partnerships? Has there been any decline in the number of industries approaching universities because of the uncertainty we hear about in industry? We hear that money and talent are available and there are potential opportunities for expansion but the companies are sitting on their hands because of the uncertainty Brexit has created. Has that affected the universities' joint programmes with industry?

That is basically it. This is somewhat repetitive but I would like to hear about the UK. I know that to an extent what we read and see in the media is propaganda, but Ireland seems to be number one in the blame game in the UK. Are the witnesses finding that in a professional capacity, or is it just media propaganda?