Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A legitimate criticism which could have been made of the Department in the past was that it was perhaps insular and inward-looking. There were reasons for that because of the very sensitive matters the Department deals with. I am pleased that a new research and data analytics unit has been established. Will it be open to engaging with the many academics in the country who are doing interesting work? They come before this committee with interesting proposals. Will the Department be more receptive to that?