Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Martin. I realise these questions are relevant to a period from quite a number of months ago but I believe the offer always was there to have a written reply granted immediately. While that was not requested, it applies in all cases. As I stated, I congratulated the President on his executive action on immigration and met Senators Reid, McConnell and Leahy, as well as the Friends of Ireland. I do not think much will happen now in respect of long-term immigration reform in the United States, given the run-in to the difficulties the parties are having and the preparations for the beginning of primaries and so on for the presidential election later next year. I hope that would not be right and in speaking to the ambassador to the United States in New York at the United Nations last week, she made the point that she continues to work diligently with the Representatives on the Hill about this matter and a number of other opportunities that may arise in respect of surplus quotas granted to other nations which may be considered important, as well as to speak to Speaker Boehner before he retires officially from the role of Speaker as to requests he may wish to make in that regard. I agree with the Deputy; inflammatory comments by candidates are not warranted, particularly with regard to immigrant people. Do we ourselves not know about that more than anybody?

I happened to be in Strokestown Park House in Roscommon yesterday. More than 3,000 people were evicted from that estate and 1,400 had to walk to Dublin, take the boat to Liverpool and take their chances on coffin ships to Canada and the United States. If the Deputy has the chance some time, he should visit the museum there and see the pictures from Eritrea and the pictures from Ireland of 1843 and 1845. There is very little difference between them.

The comments being made by some candidates in respect of immigrant people are to be condemned. I opened a facility here in Dublin recently, the chief financial executive of which is an immigrant person who came here with parents who acquired refugee status. That contributes greatly to the running of our economy, and we should be very proud of that mix. I agree with the Deputy that comments being made by candidates in these elections are not warranted and should be condemned.

I agree with Deputy Martin on the question of the Nobel prize in terms of complimenting Professor Campbell for his works.

Speaking to Science Foundation Ireland and the Institute for Research and Innovation, I am aware this is an area that is increasing in importance. Given the limited financial resources available over recent years, perhaps the focus was not as strong as it should have been, but it has been stronger than it was and I would like to see that continue. When Prime Minister Modi was here in the past fortnight, we spoke about this, and the research going on in Ireland in terms of polluted water and all the advantages Ireland is showing in that kind of research and development is of interest to a country the scale of India with its huge numbers.

In terms of the United States, we do not have the same bursary facilities that apply in universities there. Clearly, it is an advantage for major universities in the US to be able to offer serious endowments and financial inducements to international people of that calibre to work in their institutions.

The Health Research Board funds a good deal of research. The demonstration hub it set up in Cork, in Deputy Martin's own place, for research and innovation specialises in having IT scientists and specialists in that area. If we are heading towards serious changes in the frontiers ahead, science, research and innovation will be of more importance. The science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, subjects in their own way are attracting more young people to do mathematics, physics, technology and science. We hope that continues and whatever encouragement has to be given will be given.

I take the Deputy's point about keeping qualified scientific people in this country. We have many of them but maybe it is not all that it should be in terms of what the State offers. We will try to begin addressing that in Tuesday's budget by again reducing the overall level of taxation that applies here because that has become an issue for people who want to work in a country like Ireland where the top rate of tax is seen as too heavy. Government will make a decision on that next week. I thank the Deputy for those comments.

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