Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

It is time to move on.

In regard to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Deputy is aware that a broader undertaking is ongoing in terms of the strategic implementation plan for research. I chair the relevant Cabinet sub-committee. This initiative covers a wide range of Departments, one of which is the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. The latter has been looking at initiatives in terms of marine energy, particular communications and so on. Out of that process arose the need for a research co-ordinator. That is the context in which the Government decided to offer that position to the person who occupied the chief science adviser post until recently.

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