Dr. Lisa Keating:

This is why the research excellence piece is so key. The European Research Council, ERC, selects, identifies or awards project purely on the basis of research excellence. It is about who has the best idea and capacity to deliver on that. It does not matter what the discipline is. In terms of the ERC and Ireland, we do particularly well in the arts, humanities and social sciences. There are three panels, two in the life sciences and one in the arts, humanities and social sciences. We draw down two thirds of our total budget from the latter. We have a strong arts, humanities and social sciences community. It is important that the Bill ensures all disciplines are protected.

On research excellence, the Deputy asked about people going against each other in an evaluation. This is the thing. At the core of the new agency has to be the creation of new knowledge. That is what it has to be based on. It is the creation of new knowledge that is important.