James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am concerned. I am trying to be constructive and we wish to contribute constructively to this portfolio. However, the cross-party group has morphed into a cross-departmental sub-committee. I am none the wiser as to what exactly the group is and we have not been party to its deliberations. During the course of the Minister of State's answer, it seems to have changed from a cross-party group to some sort of departmental sub-committee. Either way, this matter needs to be taken seriously. There are targets in Innovation 2020. We stress that these are not ambitious enough. Be that as it may, they must be measured, monitored and actioned and resources must be allocated in respect of them. The available data suggest none of this is the case. I have spoken to people in the scientific community and researchers at home and abroad - individuals who are overseas and who may be considering returning to Ireland - and they have all informed me that the single thing they need is a multi-annual commitment. They need to know if they are to move their research hubs or bases to Ireland that they will be supported with funding on a multi-annual basis. These are fundamental, basic tenets which do not appear to be contemplated in the strategy.

See this speech in context