Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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The Government remains committed to the vision of using research and innovation to generate jobs and growth. That is the fundamental philosophy underscoring our efforts in this area. The 2014 science and technology programme budgets have been maintained at the 2013 levels, which will support this goal. Within the constraints of our economic circumstances, we are maximising the funding available for research, development and innovation and, critically, seeking to maximise the impact of this investment on jobs and the economy. Evidence from both the EU and internationally shows that the Government's strategy of accelerating the economic and societal return on our science, technology and innovation investment is paying off.

We are first in Europe for jobs created in research and development and tenth out of 142 countries under the global innovation index for 2013. Ireland is in 13th position for university-industry collaboration on research and development. We are in the top 20 in global international scientific rankings, first in molecular genetics, second in probiotics, third in immunology, sixth in nanotechnology, eighth in material science and tenth in computer science. We are ranked third in the EU on the new indicator of innovation output, which measures the extent to which ideas from innovative sectors are able to reach the market, thereby making Europe more competitive and helping to create jobs.

The provisional figures indicate that the target to support 100 high-potential start-up businesses in 2013 has been exceeded. These businesses have committed to creating a total of 2,100 new jobs and will generate annual sales of €300 million by 2015. The seven new Science Foundation Ireland research centres established in 2013 will directly support 800 jobs and are a key attractant for foreign direct investment. In 2013, Science Foundation Ireland had links to 65% of the 3,085 jobs announced by IDA Ireland in the fields covered by SFI's legal remit. We will continue the implementation of research prioritisation as well as a range of other initiatives to deliver on our strategy, ensure a more targeted investment of science, technology and innovation, and further enhance the effectiveness and impact of our research investment, with the aim of sustaining and creating jobs across the sectors to which I referred.

This year, Science Foundation Ireland will establish two to three new large-scale research centres, which will support between 200 and 300 jobs in sectors of national strategic importance, such as medical devices, software, diagnostics, telecommunications, smart grids, and sustainable food production and processing. SFI will also fund 3,000 researchers and more than 20 world-class research centres in 2014. These are a key magnet for foreign direct investment and will help to ensure Ireland becomes one of the most attractive locations in Europe and globally in this regard.

Enterprise Ireland will support 95 high-potential start-up businesses in 2014 which, as I said, will yield 2,100 jobs across a range of sectors. We are also working hard on driving greater industrial and academic collaboration. Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland will continue to promote and drive effective collaboration between the two. The main driving force for this is the translational impact from research into economic activity.

Does the Vice Chairman wish me to address the individual subheads?