Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I note what the Minister said in respect of amendment No. 8. In that context, I am happy to withdraw amendments Nos. 7 and 11. If I understand what he said correctly, the purpose of amendment No. 8 is to seek to draw down as much funding from entities like the ERC, through Horizon and so on. That is laudable. I would have thought that would be obvious anyway, but I think the Minister may be stating an ambition there. In accepting the logic of his amendment and withdrawing amendments Nos. 7 and 11, what I would say is that we cannot talk about accessing funding if the infrastructure that is there at the moment across the HEIs is such that there is downward pressure on funding people - good, excellent researchers - and providing good terms and conditions of employment. Where, for instance, universities or HEIs are operating deficits, it should not have a downward or, for want of a better expression, stultifying effect on people moving from below the bar to above the bar or from attaining professional status in their own institutions. That has an impact on their ability because they are trying to do more work with less people, and it makes the ability to apply for funding all the more limited. For the purposes of getting on with the proceedings quickly, I will formally withdraw amendments Nos. 7 and 11.