Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I commend the Bills Office and my officials in the Department who worked so hard on this legislation. I genuinely thank colleagues for the really constructive engagement we have had. I look forward to this legislation now going to the Seanad. This is a real opportunity to have one singular research funding agency in Ireland and to have that parity of esteem across disciplines. I very much take on board many of the constructive comments and the to-do list colleagues have set out here tonight. With regard to the Government chief scientific adviser, it is my hope that position will be re-advertised by the end of this month or early next month. I thank the Public Appointments Service for the work it is doing in that regard.

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