Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very excited about the research Bill. It is a chance to get a stand-alone piece of research legislation right. Yesterday I announced that we will have a research advisory forum so we can hear directly from the community and from researchers to make sure we get it right. The Deputy is entirely correct. The establishment of five technological universities has been a big achievement for the Government and a big benefit for regional Ireland. The next step is new contract opportunities so they can achieve the scale of ambition that the Deputy and I both have for them. I intend to try to pursue that this year.

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