Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Since 2023, my Department has been engaging with the research and innovation community on this matter.

We promote the concepts of due diligence, proper risk management and ensuring that international co-operation is properly risk-checked but at the same time I would be loath to say - I know this is not what the Deputy is saying - that international co-operation is something that we should all view with suspicion because it has been hugely positive for Irish students and for third level institutions to have access to both European ones such as Erasmus and Horizon and to those in the Far East, in the Middle East and in South America, where it has provided great opportunities. The Deputy is right to raise it, however, and we certainly will reflect on it.