Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses. It is very much about the balance and seeing how research has developed across so many areas in society, but also in enterprise and the economy, as well as the current challenges we face as a country, in particular our environmental challenges in climate action.

I will put a question to Dr. Lillis and bring in the other committee members as well. I have one other question about competitive peer review, so I may contribute again at the end. There is a cost to international peer review panels. It is incredible in terms of the power to bring the experts in their field at a world-class level to Ireland to see our research infrastructure and visit our universities. They create linkages and networks and it is also very powerful for our own research teams to be able to network, collaborate and perhaps visit another university. They build those links. Sometimes site visits are crucial in that regard. What are the thoughts of the Department in terms of maintaining the peer review process for all types of research and innovation in Ireland?