Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
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I thank Ms Riordan and wish her well. I appreciate that she is getting to grips with Science Foundation Ireland but that she has much experience in the area.

Similar to Deputy Calleary I wish to raise EU funding. The issue has come up previously that we do not do enough to leverage funding in the EU for our research spend. Ms Riordan probably has that in her sights, which is a good thing.

Ms Riordan might have an insight into ICT skills from her work with Fastrack to IT, FIT, which has been before the committee. It is an impressive operation. The committee produced a report on the area of ICT skills shortage. That coincided with the publication of the Government’s ICT action plan. Perhaps Mr. Keane would wish to respond also in terms of whether the plan is having an effect. I am aware there is a big take up in postgraduate reconversion. The programme is in its infancy in that it has only been going for approximately two years but we should have begun to see results at this stage.

I was pleased when I heard the witnesses were coming before the committee. I was interested in Ms Riordan’s reference in her opening comments to the marriage bar and having to give up work. A couple of female PhD students were in contact with me who had to go on maternity leave. Their payment as researchers is a stipend, it is not accredited pay so they are not entitled to any maternity leave or sick leave. I know the situation in the United Kingdom is similar but that is not the case in other countries where they recognise the payment as insurable income, which does make a difference, in particular when one considers that such people can be in their mid to late 20s and they want to build up contributions or they might have mortgages. Many issues arise but maternity leave in particular was raised with me. Ms Riordan might not have a response but she might consider whether the issue could be resolved in the course of her work.