Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank both of the witnesses for being here. This has raised a number of important questions. I first want to ask if there is joined up thinking, and a lot of co-ordination between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Department of Health and CORU. What is the current level of collaboration? Engagement has been mentioned, but it often strikes me that when there are a lot of bodies and stakeholders involved it can pose problems and barriers. I would like to know what the current level of engagement is. Are there planned meetings every month, or what way is it structured?

Second, in terms of the binary nature of approval or fail decisions by CORU, is the approach currently utilised too inflexible? Could improvements be made? What improvements could be made to CORU's decision making?