Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In relation to the future benefits, I refer to two important pieces of work that we are undertaking this year. One is our new national research and innovation strategy for Ireland in which we will specifically map out the actions we intend to take. Being honest, one of the things we will have to do, if we are serious about research, is to ensure that we fund it at a level that is, at least, the European average. We are not where we need to be. This is one of the reasons the Taoiseach established this relatively new Department and that he is making sure that we increase the level of funding in research. The second piece of work is a proposal that I will bring to Cabinet, probably as soon as Tuesday, to develop a new international education research strategy for Ireland. That will provide an opportunity to engage with the research community, and to engage abroad, in relation to the role Ireland can play from a research point of view.

I refer to Deputy Lahart's question about the impact of Covid. There was a lower number of new hosting agreements in 2020 than 2019, which is probably not a surprise. In 2019, there were 853 new agreements and that dipped to 761 in 2020. This, perhaps, gives us some indication of the impact of Covid, although my colleagues tell me that it is still too early to fully judge this.

In relation to people coming into the country, normal travel rules will apply. If a person comes from a country that is not on the red list, he or she can come to our country and get on with it like anybody else. If a person comes from a country that is on the red list, mandatory hotel quarantine will apply.

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