Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I met Dr. Fottrell, the chairman of Science Foundation Ireland, in late 2004. It has been exceptionally successful in its work since its establishment in the late 1990s or the early years of this century. The Government is committed to providing substantial resources in the field of food research innovation. I have stated that substantial resources have been committed already in the Department's Estimates and will be provided under the Government's science and technology innovation strategy.

Last August, the International Congress of Meat Science and Technology was held in Ireland. It was hosted by Teagasc and the Department and included participants from more than 50 countries. I spoke to participants from countries such as the United States, Britain and other European counties who were highly knowledgeable about the significant resources Ireland is investing in science and research at present. I refer to the development of the laboratories at Backweston, the additional resources for Teagasc and the assistance to third level institutions at both university and institute of technology level. Moreover, public good research can be conducted by private and public companies in association with the public service and third level institutions. This is how great synergies are being developed with regard to productive research. I am highly confident the considerable resources being devoted to the food sector will pay great dividends for the food industry, the national economy and — as Deputy Upton noted earlier — the emerging health agenda.

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