Mr. Kieran Donoghue:

Regarding the observation of Deputy James Lawless on the potential for movement of academics and professional researchers to Ireland, that is an important area. A number of our research intensive clients and colleagues in SFI have drawn our attention to the fact that non-UK researchers, in particular, now believe the United Kingdom is a less welcoming environment in which to conduct research and that a number of them are actively looking for new jurisdictions to which they can transfer their research activities, especially if they are EU funded, or where they can start new research agendas. It is an issue we are monitoring closely. When a country can attract a lead researcher in an area, it is often a basis for attracting flows of investment.