Professor Daniel Carey:

I think there is legitimacy to that concern. In other words, I do not think it is a vested interest. Ireland performs at an extremely high level in the arts, humanities and social sciences when we look at rankings and European Research Council, ERC, success. That is something we want to protect, preserve and nourish. We start from that premise. If there is a concern, it is because of the difference in budget associated with SFI as opposed to the IRC. The IRC funds all disciplines and then has a special mission with regard to arts, humanities and social sciences. That is the origin of the concern, that there may be a ceiling there or it may even be reduced under a new funding agency.

I am reassured by many of the statements that have been made but obviously we want to create the conditions in which that is a reality. That is where the concern is coming from. I will be specific about a couple of other points. The potential provision for an arts, humanities and social sciences, AHSS, council is an interesting idea. It is difficult if it is isolated and on its own. I would question what purpose it would serve if it only has an advisory capacity. That might suggest that the real business of the agency lies elsewhere, which would be unfortunate. I do not think that is the intention, but that would be unfortunate. Something else can be done with those councils if they are advisory. If we look internationally at where such councils exist, which are AHSS oriented, they always have budget attached to them. I do not think that is what is being imagined in this case, so that is part of it.

Finally, in relation to challenge-based research or prioritisation, we have a history of AHSS rather forgotten about there or creating what I call the "passenger problem". One is welcome as long as one is a passenger, not really driving the bus or influencing the agenda. We could look to the Canadian experience with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, SSHRC, which is rather instructive. It is leading out on challenge-based research.