Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Members of the Government and legislators must realise that we are only working to provide the fabric that binds together other strengths that will make research work. Research and development is complex and varied and no one fully understands all of its various aspects and areas, whether in information technology, the pharmaceutical industry or manufacturing where a substantial amount of research is being done at all times. If everybody were to agrees on the policy to be promoted by government and the universities, something essential would be wrong with policy. This is because scientists work on the basis of differing viewpoints and a diversity of opinion about how things work. The Government's role is to support as best it can policy and governance by providing underpinning legislation that will make everything work.

The research prioritisation steering group is needed to give some form of direction to what we are doing. We cannot go down many different avenues because if we are unsure of the types of policies we are pursuing or matters such as governance, we will quickly lose focus and lose our way in respect of the manner in which research is done and its ultimate objectives.

Much comment has been made about commercialising research. Less than 1% of the research and development budget of commercial organisations such as pharmaceutical companies delivers concrete results. Research does not always guarantee an outcome, even when it is entirely commercially focused.

The purpose of the legislation is to give us some sense of the direction in which we will move and what we hope to get from the money we are spending. The organisations involved in research are diverse and the scope of the legislation extends beyond the university sector. We are trying to bring into our primary schools a certain ethos and attitude towards research and development, science and how we think about the future. Information technology such as the white board is being used in primary schools. Students in many schools do their homework on iPads, which were not even invented when I attended secondary school. I am not especially old but technology is moving on at a rapid pace. My children use iPads and information technology and are completely on the ball.

We need to spend taxpayers' money in a manner that secures the best possible return. A multi-departmental approach is required because many of the issues that arise in science, technology, engineering and maths fall within the remit of both the Department of Education and Skills and Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The former must nurture scientific and technological thinking at primary and secondary level. Not only must the curriculum make sense, but students must have access to broadband and software. The same applies to the universities where we must raise the bar because we expect to get more from the third level sector. Anyone who attended university, specifically a mathematics, science or engineering faculty, will know that much research at third level is done for the sake of it and is pointless, non-directional and does not deliver anything. This lack of direction must be avoided which will require universities to review what they do. While it is not necessary to treat all research as commercial, it is necessary to have some form of end point and governance systems for carrying out research. Too many masters degrees lack direction and do not deliver much. This is not so much the case in respect of PhDs as the bar is set somewhat higher for doctorates. We must bring the universities on board.

Deputy John Browne referred to the need for a university in the south east. We, in the south east, are becoming a little too hung up on the need for a university in the region. Waterford has an excellent institute of technology. The institutes of technology will have a fantastic role to play in this regard, provided they have clear governance structures and are given a clear role to fulfil in the third level sector in delivering some of the objectives that have been outlined in this debate.

As I indicated, the scope of this legislation extends beyond Science Foundation Ireland and into the university sector, the institutes of technology, the IDA and multinational and indigenous companies. The Kerry Group, an indigenous multinational company based in County Kerry, will spend €700 million in the coming years developing a food research facility in County Kildare. This will provide major opportunities to masters and PhD graduates in science and physics, both with and without experience, who wish to assist in fulfilling the company's objectives for its new research facility. The Government must work with it in this regard.

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