Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the good work done by the British Irish Chamber of Commerce. Quite frankly, the Windsor Framework now provides opportunity and clarity for these issues to be addressed. Up until that point, the conversation was always about the protocol issue needing to be resolved before those other issues, which were all tied in with Brexit, in respect of Horizon and others, could be addressed. Once the Windsor Framework was put in place and that impasse was overcome, through the British Government working with the European Union, it provided the opportunity for a conversation now about a rise in funding. Quite frankly, however, it is a matter for the British Government to decide its position. The Irish Government is very supportive of Britain being involved in Horizon because it is our nearest neighbour and we want it to do well, because we are interlinked in so many areas of research and education and we want to work with the UK on programmes through Horizon. The factual answer is it is a matter for the British Government to decide now how it wants to proceed. I have heard some issues around the UK developing its own alternative scheme and the like but it is my personal view that I would like to see it opt into Horizon, while respecting it is a matter for the UK.

I will be very clear that we continue to engage closely with the United Kingdom on many issues to do with education and research. The Chair will probably be aware that we have announced, as recently as the past couple of months, the idea of these co-centres in research. These will not just be on a North-South but also will be an east-west basis. We are funding some through SFI and the UK is funding stuff through UK Research and Innovation, UKRI. This will be an opportunity for us to develop research centres that will operate on a North-South and east-west basis. Through SFI, we are looking for opportunities through the shared island fund; the Chair will have seen the funding we announced yesterday.

Regardless of the decisions SFI makes, which are a matter for it, we are extremely eager to work with it on research and innovation opportunities. I have met the UK's Minister of State responsible for science on several occasions and am due to have a bilateral engagement. It is worth noting that the UK saw the wisdom of what we did in this country, including through this incredible new Department. It decided to copy the idea, and we wish it well. There is now a Department of State in the UK that somewhat mirrors ours, although I do not believe it has "Higher Education" in its title. I believe it covers research, innovation and science. Afull Secretary of State has been appointed.