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

We can work together on that. I was aware of the changes in the SFI Acts in 2012 and 2013, when the policy was changed. At the time, Deputy Calleary would have spoken for my party and raised concerns. I know the academic community at the time were also concerned about the shift in emphasis. There was also the issue that for the first time, research priorities were being directed by the Ministers, as opposed to allowing academics to decide. Undoubtedly, commercial activity is needed along with frontier research but the view in the academic community and those involved with high-end research, certainly at an academic level, would be that the shift was a bridge too far. It is the equivalent of Isaac Newton in the orchard, when he watched the apple fall, being told to go back to study cider fermentation instead of discovering gravity. Groundbreaking discoveries happen when somebody with a great mind is looking into matters without a focus on the goal or outcome.

Deputy Calleary put these questions when the Bill was passed and 900 scientists wrote to The Irish Timesin 2013, expressing their alarm and dismay at the Government's approach in 2013. Unfortunately, in 2017 we are seeing a similar pattern. I joined the March for Science with a number of academics and researchers - people at the top end of their fields - only a few weeks ago and the same concerns were again being voiced. The Government needs to change direction in the matter and I ask the Minister of State to take that on board.

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