Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Richmond asked about the specific number of in-person dialogues that have taken place. I do not have a specific number with me but I can refer him to the shared island unit which can give an update and briefing on the matter.

We have been pressing for, and insisting on, full adherence with meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council. We are being told that there is no deliberate policy of non-attendance at some of the sectoral meeting. That is something we will continue to pursue and on which we will engage with the new unionist leadership.

Deputy McDonald mentioned the Royal Irish Academy. We are funding a broad range of research projects and are not committed to any one particular model. Science Foundation Ireland has done a lot of work with the UK research and innovation centre. That is important and it would be good for us to develop and fund expanded levels of research, involving North-South and, indeed, east-west co-operation. We have, for example, already funded a range of projects under the Irish Research Council. We are working with the council, which is obviously separate to Science Foundation Ireland. A funding call is currently open for academic contributions across the strands of political policy and economic co-operation, and civic, social and cultural connection and understanding on the island. Up to ten research projects will be funded, starting this year and concluding in mid-2022, as part of the Irish Research Council's New Foundations programme. That is one area.

The other area is working with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on a competition for collaboration between consortia, North and South, around specific research issues that would be of mutual benefit to all on the island. That is also being worked on and a broad-based approach to research is envisaged. The shared island unit and I are open to good quality proposals. We want to see an element of competition for the research funding and a strategic approach must be adopted, considering the value of the research programme. A whole range of topics are under consideration, including cybersecurity, biodiversity, technology and so on.

We are pursuing a meeting with the new unionist leadership and will engage. Deputy Tóibín raised a broader issue about adherence to the Good Friday Agreement and to all strands of it. Dialogue is the most important and effective mechanism, as we have learned over the years. That said, within the European framework, Europe is already taking legal action in respect of unilateral actions taken by the UK Government in respect of the commencement dates around the protocol. Nonetheless, a process is now in place between Maroš Šefčovič and David Frost in respect of the adherence to an international agreement that has been arrived at by the British Government with the European Union, which includes Ireland. In respect of the Good Friday Agreement, we believe that dialogue is the most effective route to deal with any issues.

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