Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to his new Research and Innovation Bill 2023, the reason there was no public consultation with the third-level research sector; and if he will meet with representatives as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. [25330/23]

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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My question relates to the new research and innovation Bill. I am aware that the Minister met with a wide range of academics on this topic. He will have heard their concerns, which they have also raised with me, that they feel no official public consultation took place in respect of the Bill. Will the Minister respond to that particular issue? Will he allow people with concerns to voice them?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted to have the opportunity to reply and I will gently push back against the Deputy's assertion. Where did this new idea for an agency and research and innovation Bill come from? It very much came from Impact 2030, Ireland's research and innovation strategy, a key objective of which is this Bill and the new research agency. That innovation strategy was developed through an extensive programme of stakeholder consultation.

In addition, the Creating our Future campaign received over 18,000 responses. We have also had stakeholder consultation on developing our new national science advice forum. I think there is a little anxiety or angst around the idea that this Bill was trundling through the Oireachtas. There were questions as to whether there would be an opportunity for people to input. I reassure the research community, as I have in person, that there will indeed be such an opportunity. Of course, the legislation is at the pre-legislative scrutiny stage, which is the stage at which stakeholders from the industry and sector have the chance to make submissions and representations and give their views. I know that has been happening.

With specific regard to the research and innovation Bill, a high level group was established in October 2022, the initial purpose of which was to advance engagement with the Higher Education Authority, HEA, the Irish Research Council, IRC, and Science Foundation Ireland, SFI. Input from all three entities has informed the development of the heads of Bill and associated transitional arrangements. My officials and I have also met with the board of SFI and the IRC, and officials have met with the HEA. I also met with the authors of the open letter to which the Deputy has referred. They are good people, including Professor Jane Ohlmeyer and others, for whom I have great time. I met them in respect of the research and innovation Bill. My officials also attended a follow-up event organised by the group.

Consultation with wider stakeholders, with particular regard to the research community, is being planned in order to seek feedback on the operationalisation of the functions of the new agency. It is foreseen that this will be led by the CEO designate of the agency. In addition, there have also been pre-legislative scrutiny hearings.

On 16 May, I announced the establishment of a research and innovation policy advisory forum, which I think will address the Deputy's concern. The forum will have an opportunity to feed into the strategic development. It is open for applicants now and I encourage people to apply. That will provide another opportunity for engagement.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome what the Minister has said about the forum. Will the Minister provide a little detail as to how many people can participate? I am aware that the Minister has met stakeholders and is, of course, aware of some of the concerns that have been raised around the need for the Bill to set out that there will be parity of esteem between disciplines. That is completely understandable. The Bill will be merging SFI and the IRC. The former is obviously significantly larger than the latter and attracts considerably more commercial funding. I have no problem with commercial funding for research in principle but in practice, if funding is primarily commercial, those disciplines which produce research that is not quite as quantifiable could suffer. We obviously need to ensure that does not happen. We can think of the great research that has been done in the arts and humanities, and so on. Those are not disciplines in which the output will realise a financial return. We need to ensure a focus on that point.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I absolutely agree with the Deputy. The IRC has done amazing work but, of course, it does not exist in statute. It was effectively established by ministerial letter. It is a sub-office, if you like, of the HEA. As I have said to the research community, I see this as an opportunity to fundamentally put on a statutory footing all that has been good about the IRC. This is not a merger or takeover. A new entity will be created. Fundamental research is absolutely vital and I am happy to ensure we make that clear in the Bill. I am happy to work with the Deputy on that point. I will come back to her with some details of the advisory forum numbers but the application process is open now.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to raise another issue. This is something with which I am sure the Minister will agree and relates to the statutory body that is going to be established under the Bill, namely, research and innovation Ireland. The Minister is probably aware that section 4 of Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 amends the Official Languages Act 2003 to the effect that the names and logos of newly established statutory bodies shall be in the Irish language. That is easily amended and should be amended. In Irish, the new body should be named taighde agus nuálaíocht Éireann.

Another issue has been raised with me about the Irish language. There needs to be greater emphasis on the Irish language within the Bill. Conradh na Gaeilge has suggested lines should be included in the Bill around promoting, including and supporting the Irish language in research and innovation within and across all disciplines, and promoting, including and supporting the Irish language in the national research and innovation system.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I was smiling to myself because I am aware of that issue but even if I was not so aware, I would be by now because Deputy Ó Snodaigh raises the issue with me any time I bring any legislation through the House. Deputy Farrell is, of course, correct that there is such a requirement. It has not yet technically commenced but the spirit of the requirement is clearly in place in the legislation passed by this House.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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We can lead from the front.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We should lead. Being honest, the name of the new agency has yet to be decided. We will, of course, fulfil our obligations. We need to consider what we call the agency in the context of promoting it internationally but I am very conscious of the Irish language piece. I am happy to engage on that point as we take the legislation through the House. I am sure the issue will also come out at pre-legislative scrutiny. I am also happy to engage with the Deputy on the Conradh na Gaeilge submission. I have found its representatives to be very constructive in all of their engagements. They made a positive contribution to the Higher Education Authority Bill, as it was then, and Act as it is now, in making it stronger and better. I am happy to work with the Deputy on that issue.