Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I have dealt with the advisory board on and off as Minister for Finance and as Taoiseach. Its role changes all the time. The embassy primarily recruits new members from Irish-Americans or Irish people who come to its notice and who are prepared to help. The members of the board are briefed regularly on Northern Ireland. They were in Ireland approximately one year ago when they met a number of Ministers and agencies. They keep in regular contact with IDA Ireland and Forfás. At a meeting, which I believe took place last year, in America, Dr. Bill Harris of Science Foundation Ireland spoke on the topic mentioned by the Deputy.

In the national development plan we are spending €2.5 billion on research and development. A decade ago the country spent practically nothing on research and development. I am very conscious of the Deputy's point. Most foreign direct investment we get and will continue to get comes from the United States. In the areas of biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and in the related information communication technologies our American investments are key. A number of people associated with the Ireland-America economic advisory board are key people — presidents and vice-presidents — in organisations which are immensely helpful to us. The Wyeth organisation has been immensely helpful to us, not only in its investment here but also in other investments.

As the Deputy will know many of the resources given to Irish universities by one particular organisation have been from a very strong member of the economic advisory board. The next meeting will be attended by one if not more of the university presidents, who will talk on some of the issues the Deputy mentioned to the economic advisory board. Not only do they have the knowledge of this matter, but many of the people they employ would be very helpful in this matter. At every turn we try to get more of them to come here. Many of the members even on their own time go out of their way when they are here on holidays to meet the agencies. So while it works well, I am always open to try to improve it. Perhaps a new group of people is coming forward — those who emigrated to America in the 1980s. This group could be very helpful in securing foreign direct investment for the future.

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