David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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When Dr. Love appeared before the committee yesterday, I put these questions to him and he offered a completely different view. He was of the view that it would not be a conflict of interest. In fact, he said he would see no difficulty with it. It was put to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills that a former vice president of an institute, the head of research and innovation at an institute and a current president of an institute had a shareholding and had been a director of multiple spin-out companies in an institute. That person had responsibility for oversight and governance and also had a shareholding in one institute and that institute was under review. Dr. Love said yesterday that he had no difficulty with this. Perhaps he might clarify his position today. Professor O'Shea has told me today that in the case of UCC he would have a problem if the head of research was to approach him about establishing a spin-out company of which he or she was to be a shareholder.