Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I will pick up where Deputy O'Callaghan left off, on head 11. It is widely framed in giving the Minister powers to give directions on any policy or objective of the Minister or the Government. I do not know whether that is standard. It is very widely framed. Professor Nolan spoke about the importance not only of separation and independence but also of being clear about any perceptions about independence. We had that issue in past, for example with the blurring of the line between the Government's scientific advisory position and Science Foundation Ireland. In that context, head 11 should be more specific. Will the witnesses comment on that?

On head 10, which deals with collaboration and who we work with, it was well put that we need to be working across areas. Yet, the specific measure around co-ordination and co-operation refers to other public research and innovation funders. Is there a danger of relationships being primarily with other funders rather than with other institutions and international partners on collective goals and that we would have a dynamic whereby private funders have a disproportionate influence on what is described in head 10 as the establishment of new policies in that area? I am concerned about that. I am working backwards through the heads. Head 9 refers to "collaborative relationships with other research funders" to develop "a cohesive national research and innovation system". Funders are one of the partners but they are named and others are not. I am concerned about the balance.

The idea of all research stages and all career stages were referred to, but that language is not in the Bill. Head 8 mentions equality of opportunity and diversity but in head 8 on objects or head 9 on functions, there is no reference to all career stages or all research stages. Does that need to be inserted to ensure those working in the sector are heard properly? When we talk about the mix and balance of competencies, am I correct that I am hearing from everyone that experience of working as a researcher in the sector at those different stages is one of the competencies needed for making decisions?

We hear a lot about competition and collaboration. Is there a potential tension in that? We also heard that basic research is fundamental but head 8 on objects states "to promote, develop and assist ... basic research in strategic areas" that help "future development and competitiveness". That sounds like the opposite of basic research in a way. It refers to basic research towards goals rather than curiosity-led basic research. Do we need to clarify that there is another form of basic research which is not necessarily goal driven but is rather that frontier thinking or blue-sky thinking? Does that need to be named, given that what is named at the moment is almost the opposite?

That leads me to my final point. European funders include the European Research Council and the European Innovation Council. As I understand it, the balance is about 80% research and 20% innovation. Research and innovation are placed beside one another throughout this Bill. We do not have a sense and do we need to have a sense in the Bill of where the balance will be? I have used the example of peace and security. When they started to be combined, peace very much took a back seat and security was placed centre stage. Do we need to be clear? Should we be following the EU model, which is 80% research and 20% innovation?