Dr. Deirdre Lillis:

I thank the Deputy for that question. Academic freedom is fully respected.  The question is whether it needs to be reflected in this Bill or not.  The Technological Universities Act guarantees academic freedom for academic members and their staff who will primarily be the people who will be funded by this agency.  It is a question we will certainly take to the drafting phase as to whether we need an explicit statement in this legislation.  It is fully in our minds and part of the intention but we will clarify that as part of the drafting phase. 

On the composition of the board, it is very much about striking the balance.  Conflict of interest is also a very significant piece in that we cannot have a scenario in which people on the board have vested interests in how the funding is allocated to the sector.  That is the balance.

It is a small country, people know each other and we have to get that balance right. The award of a big competitive funding grant has to be without reproach. Getting that balance is going to be important.