Dr. John Walsh:

I will take the point on governance first. The issue with the Bill currently is that there is a lack of clarity around the governance. The Minister is to appoint the board but who would be members of the board? The European Research Council is one model for best practice at European level that the Minister could look at. It is also important that the board include a majority of researchers who are actively involved in research. For good governance there needs to be a diversity of perspectives representing various disciplines, levels and areas of research, postdoctoral and senior and people involved in the humanities, as well as STEM.

Regarding the meeting with the Minister, the open letter was handed into the Minister last Tuesday by a group of us, including Mr. Jones, Professor Ohlmeyer, Professor O'Neill and others. The Minister kindly facilitated a meeting and we had a constructive discussion with him. The Minister indicated that he was planning a structured engagement with stakeholders but he did not go into detail. I am not telling the committee what to do but it is obviously a question members may want to pursue. It is really important that there be a public consultation and an open and structured engagement with stakeholders which allows the voice of researchers and the academic community to be heard on this.