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

Monday's edition of The Irish Timescarried an article by the provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr. Patrick Prendergast. He made a point that I have been making for some time. Investment in research is critical and not just in commercial research, which is highly important, but in basic pioneering research. The most important discoveries happen by accident when great minds are concentrated with relevant supports. The reality is that sector of our education and enterprise portfolio is being squeezed. The discovery and frontier of basic research is not being funded as funding is being diverted elsewhere. Will the Taoiseach answer the provost's call and engage with the sector because we fear a loss of talent, risk a degradation of our education sector and, by extension, enterprise if this is not tackled?

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