Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

A thorough reading of the research prioritisation steering group document will reveal a clear statement about research for knowledge and for policy. Science Foundation Ireland is not the only game in town. Science Foundation Ireland and the research prioritisation exercise is one of a number of research funders within the State. There are entities like the Health Research Board, the Higher Education Authority, Teagasc, the Irish Research Council and other such bodies. It is important that we have perspective.

Research for knowledge is a key component of Government policy and that is embedded in the research prioritisation exercise steering group documentation. It is a fundamental principle and there is no moving away from that. There is also an adherence to the idea that if research does not measure up to excellence, has no impact or is found to be futile and going nowhere, there will be enough people within the system and externally, who will measure its impact and if it is deemed not to be fit for purpose the State can roll back its investment in specific areas. This is not written on tablets of stone. No research community in the world, where the state has an active part to play, is so inflexible that it will continue to research in areas where it is clear that there is no economic or societal impact or where the research does not measure up to the principle of excellence.

I can understand where Senator Barrett is coming from. He speaks about the enhancement of knowledge in the wider society. It is not only taken as a given that we are trying to enhance knowledge. It is set out clearly in the documentation relating to the prioritisation exercise. There is no ambiguity about that whatsoever.