Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. They were thought-provoking. The need for definition and clarity are absolutely pivotal. We need legislation that we hope will stand the test of time.

I will first deal with the idea of fundamental versus applied research. I share many of the concerns raised by Deputy O'Callaghan. As it stands, the Bill reads as something that may be a little overly business- and science-oriented. It seems to be about the metrics by which we judge research, as opposed to what Dr. Keating said about the creation of new knowledge. The creation of new knowledge can happen in any field. She said the definition of "fundamental research" is not properly fleshed out. I understand this as being about blue-sky thinking. It is about the research for which we have not figured out an application and we may come back to that.

How would Dr. Keating like to see that more broadly defined? Can she point the committee towards an international comparator that helps us define it in a way that best suits purposes?