Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We can request that information.

Next is No. 717.B from Professor Andrew Deeks, president of UCD, dated 7 July, providing information requested by the committee. This has come up before and relates to the partnership between UCD and Tullow Oil for the provision of a third level course. UCD states that the partnership and the master of science programme in petroleum geoscience which was supported by Tullow Oil ran from 2012 to 2016 and has now ceased. UCD states, "It is in the public interest that professionals working in the petroleum industry are appropriately trained to ensure that the industry operates effectively and efficiently and minimises its impact on climate change and biodiversity."

Regarding bringing more transparency to higher education institutions' receipt of funding from private companies, the president states that UCD has hundreds if not thousands of collaborations with third parties and that publishing them would create a significant and unnecessary additional administrative burden. UCD states that the Science Foundation Ireland research centres are examples of projects that are contingent on such collaborations. It is proposed that we note and publish this item if that is agreed. Agreed. Deputy Catherine Murphy has flagged this item for discussion.