Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The status issue that the Deputy has outlined will be considered. It is an explicit term of the terms of reference. What I would also flag to the Deputy, as I flagged earlier, is that in this House we will have an opportunity in 2023 to pass a research Bill. The Government has committed to bringing forward a stand-alone national research Bill in 2023. This will be the Bill to give effect to many of the provisions of Impact 2030, including the creation of one new agency for funding research in Ireland, but will also perhaps give an opportunity to look at scientific advisory structures and, therefore, it will give an opportunity to deal with any of the recommendations that flow from the review as well.

I would encourage the organisations and groups the Deputy is referencing to engage with the reviewers, as I know they will. It will be open to public consultation but there will also be specific stakeholder engagement. I will make sure the Deputy is aware of how that is going to work in terms of the process. We will be led by the evidence that the review produces.

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