Mr. Waqar Ahmed:

Our first concern has been to do with the point that was previously made about the definition of research and researchers. We have all the pay scales from post-doctoral research onwards. However, when it comes to postgraduate research, PhD researchers, it is not properly defined. The first concern we hear is that who we are and what we do is not recognised, which sets foundations that do not help us. Representation matters on the board. We are forming this new agency because not everything has been right in the previous one. Otherwise there would be no need to make a new one. One thing previous agencies have absolutely lacked is representation or even engagement with stakeholders and researchers themselves, including PhD researchers. I am referring to the simplest things, for example maternity leave. There are meetings every second minute but it never happens because there is no strong voice. Researchers who have European Research Council scholarships are getting contracts, while researchers with SFI or IRC funding are treated totally differently. It is necessary to include researchers from all areas and to create an equal system. There is no need to create a two-tier system for researchers funded by European research foundations and those funded by our research foundations.

As there is no representation, we fear that the corporate plan will be reviewed after five years. Again, there is no mention of consultation with stakeholders and there is not even an independent review provided for in the current legislation. We are concerned about how we are defined, the lack of representation we have in these agencies and the absence of the engagement we have sought. I reiterate that this Bill was a complete surprise to us. There was no public or structured consultation as to what we need or why we need this Bill. We then have to respond to it. We are always catching up. Our engagement has always been reactive and that has probably been our biggest concern.