Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The factual position I have to outline here relates to the questions. With regard to the specific issue raised by the Deputy, the question of supporting innovation is fundamental to improving competitiveness in the economy. A great deal of support has been given to that area, in the hundreds of millions of euro, through a wide range of research and development rogrammes. The question of setting up specific funds around existing funds or using them in addition to existing funds would be a matter for budgetary consideration.

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