Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, I thank the various Deputies for their contributions to the debate on this Bill. We are delighted to see unanimous cross-party support for this Bill, which is an acknowledgement of how important science and technology is to Ireland's economic and societal development. It is heartening to have had such an extensive discussion on SFI operations, and on wider elements of our science and education systems. It is also very encouraging to note that a wider audience now recognises the important role that Science Foundation Ireland, a small but highly efficient agency of just over 40 staff, is playing in our economic rehabilitation.

SFI is a national success story of which we should be proud. Almost on a weekly basis of late we have seen the direct, and indirect, positive consequences through various FDI and indigenous jobs announcements. These are in some way linked to SFI-funded research teams, contributing in some way to recent significant jobs and investment announcements by companies such as PayPal, Zurich, E-Bay, McAfee, Yahoo, Glanbia, FeedHenry, etc.

The main purpose of this Bill is to enable SFI to drive Ireland's economic future and to support excellent funding opportunities to realise the potential of this research for the wider economy. While the Bill is primarily about SFI operations, I know the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, is more than happy to engage on Committee Stage, in a broader conversation that covers the research prioritisation action plans. As there seem to be some misconceptions around the 14 priority and six underpinning areas, the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, will be glad to have the opportunity to discuss this further. He will also be happy to discuss the roles and functions of other research funders; supports for fundamental research - "blue-skies" research; and elaborate on Government plans regarding moves towards a new national science strategy in 2014.

I take the opportunity to correct or clarify a number of points that were made by some Deputies on 17 April. In his contribution, Deputy Boyd Barrett chose to use misinformed and outdated material that appeared in The Irish Times during the latter part of 2012. Without examining the evidence of various SFI and other agency funding announcements in recent months, the Deputy cited certain articles and quotes attributed to three people out of the several thousand research personnel who are directly involved in Ireland's scientific community as his weapon to deride Government's science policy.

I wish to correct some details that appeared in The Irish Times. SFI is not shutting down 27 research centres - it is not shutting down any research centre. Through its various centres funded programmes, there is a natural lifetime associated with an SFI centre award, be it on a three or five-year basis, and some centres will go on to a second term award.

Assuming a centre is of true internationally recognised excellence, and of continuing direct relevance to a nation's educational and industrial base, over time it will invariably develop a range of funding streams which ensure its sustainability. This is as it should be; centres should not exist beyond their natural productive state or relevance and nor should they be overly reliant on one funder.

On the issue of support for mathematics, the largest single award under the 2012 SFI investigators programme awards announced at the end of January this year was a €2.7 millioninvestment in mathematics to the Mathematics Applications Consortium for Science and Industry, MACSI, based at the University of Limerick. I wish to clarify a number of points raised by Deputy Calleary. We note the point made about appreciating where this SFI legislation fits in the overall jigsaw of our research offerings. In this regard, the Minister of State with responsibility for research and innovation wishes to inform the House it is his intention to look to deliver a new national science strategy in 2014 given that the existing strategy for science,technology and innovation, which commenced in 2006, expires this year.

We have not ceased funding supports for e-journals. The e-journals facility provides researchers in all disciplines electronic access to world-leading research databases and publications. Through the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Vote, the Government will provide more than €4.5 million to maintain the provision of e-journals this year. Deputy Calleary also referred to an apparent suspension of the programme for research in third-level institutions. Through the Department's Vote this year we will provide approximately €40 million to continue support for more than 40 research projects and top-class facilities under the programme for research in third-level institutions.

At this juncture I wish to bring to the attention of the House the possibility we may table a small number of amendments to the Bill on Committee Stage which shall be of relevance to the rationalisation of certain functions that currently fall to Forfás. Following a recent Government decision it has been decided that certain functions relating to the Irish National Accreditation Board should transfer from Forfás to the Health and Safety Authority. As a consequence a small number of legal changes need to be accommodated quickly and these could be presented for consideration on Committee Stage.

Through this legislation, our ambition is that SFI will continue to fund excellent scientific research, which fosters innovation and enterprise leading to high-value jobs and improvements in our society. SFI is a key part of our science and enterprise ecosystem which aims to further develop our success in export markets, start and grow new companies, attract new foreign direct investment opportunities and further build Ireland's international reputation as an economy and a society. SFI has, in the period since its establishment in 2000, ensured the State's investment in research and development has transformed the research landscape in Ireland. The changes proposed in the Bill will enable SFI to deliver on the Government's aim to invest in areas linked to Ireland's future economic and societal needs and to accelerate the delivery of outcomes from this research investment. We welcome the positive outlook of Deputies towards the Bill and look forward to its passage following Committee and Report Stages.

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