Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

On the first part of the question, as the Deputy is well aware the Minister, Deputy Bruton, has already visited India and a further visit to the United States is envisaged some time during the summer. The Deputy will also be aware that the President has visited The Netherlands. Part of that process involved engaging on the European Space Agency, ESA, programme in which six Irish companies are already involved.

An internal engagement in ongoing on the content services centre. We do not have definitive timelines at this stage but there is a very clear direction within the programme for Government that we would build on the existing centres of excellence and create three additional competence centres. That engagement is currently ongoing. I am happy to engage with the Deputy on the matter, as I would be with any Member of the House, because it is in the national interest that we continue to ensure we can build on the €600 million that is invested in research and development in this country.

The research and STI programme will be vital in order to ensure that companies already in this country which are based on the FDI model stay here and that we can build and add to what exists. That is why the budget lines are vital. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter. I thank him sincerely for his kind remarks.

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