Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)

-----so am sensitive to it. I take the Deputy's point. One of the things we have to look at is how we can simplify our tax code in this area. We are getting feedback from small and large companies that this is a particularly complex part of our corporate tax regime. I am conscious that we have to see whether we can clarify matters and make it easier for companies to access.

Figures shared with me show that through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Government is directly involved in the funding of €1.14 billion of research and development through our universities.