Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute. All speakers are singing the same tune, which is that this is very much a worthwhile Bill that amends the 1998 Act. The original legislation recognised the significant contribution made by former US Senator, George Mitchell, to the Northern Ireland peace process. Many North-South initiatives have been implemented and I am glad this initiative relates to projecting education on an all-Ireland basis. The role of the late Ted Kennedy and his family in projecting this concept onto the Irish front must also be acknowledged.

The Bill provides for the Government to set aside €20 million to provide for the creation of a scholarship to fund US students to pursue a postgraduate year of study or research in Irish universities and institutions, both North and South, which is welcome, including universities in Galway, Maynooth, Belfast, Dublin and the University of Ulster. The Waterford Institute of Technology, which has a significant involvement in research and development in the science and technology fields, was referred to. I am surprised it is not included in the list of Irish institutions. Perhaps it should be because it has a link with a major technological college in Massachusetts and aims to create links with other third level colleges in the US.

I compliment Trina Vargo who took charge of the scholarship fund through the US-Ireland Alliance. The intention was to award 12 Americans aged between 18 and 30 a scholarship annually to pursue a year of study. Other funding was provided by the British Government and through sponsorship and contributions received by the alliance, including from the US Government. It was agreed by our Government in 2007 to amend the legislation to secure the long-term viability of the fund. According to the Minister of State, nothing happened between 2002 and 2007. Why was that the case? Did the enthusiasm for the scholarship programme wane? We kept the concept moving and became visionary about it but the Government had to pursue America for matching funding. I am worried about putting €20 million into a fund for a period of years to keep the programme going but the money should be used fruitfully.

The website of the US-Ireland Alliance states:

We look for persuasive, documented evidence of significant achievement in three areas: scholarship, leadership, and commitment to community and service. All three areas are important. Some applicants have impressive academic credentials but lack a credible record of accomplishment[.]

It also states leadership and community service are significant criteria. We had the George Lee episode in recent weeks.