Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish him well in his new and challenging role. I saw his dedication and commitment at first hand when he was Chairman of the Oireachtas jobs committee. He is now in a position to deliver the goods.

This programme is one of the most exciting and best goods news stories that we have heard in a long time. Running from 2014 to 2020, this fund of €80 billion forms part of a drive to create new jobs growth in Europe. Not only is it Europe's largest ever research and innovation programme, it is the world's largest. It is designed to raise the level of excellence in our science base, to make Ireland a more attractive location in which to invest in research and innovation and to address many societal issues.

Senator Quinn referred to the main issue, namely, how to spread the message of this good news and ensure that SMEs throughout the country are aware that such a resource is available to them. This investment could help drive our recovery. Since the Government entered into office in 2011, there has been steady investment in research and development, but this is a major additional injection for the next six years.

I welcome the Minister of State's comment on how this would make it easier for the public and private sectors to work together, in that there would be less red tape. If there is one issue that small businesses keep raising with us, it is the amount of red tape they encounter and their difficulty in accessing information and grants. I welcome the fact that a high-level group has been put in place, chaired by the Minister of State's Department and with a support network in Enterprise Ireland, to drive this programme with dedication and commitment. I also welcome the fact that universities and colleges will be in a position to leverage much of the funding. I am conscious that, under previous programmes, my university of University College Galway was a significant beneficiary of funding for research and development projects that had considerable impacts on society.

The Minister of State referred to the societal challenges facing us as a nation. It is important that priority is being given to projects targeting some of the serious issues that will face our world in the years ahead. Senator Naughton referred to the need for investment in projects to assess and help with people's major health issues, but we are also conscious of the fact that the world's population will reach 9 billion by 2050. We need to change our approach to production, consumption, recycling and waste disposal radically while minimising the environmental impact.

Smart, green and integrated transport present significant research and investment opportunities. Transport systems as we know them are probably unstable in the long term. We rely heavily on reducing stocks of oil, which makes us less energy secure. I hope that some of the projects that emerge from Horizon 2020's considerable investment will address issues of climate change, energy and raw materials. The era of never-ending cheap resources is coming to an end and access to raw materials and clean water can no longer be taken for granted. Biodiversity and ecosystems are also under pressure. The solution is to invest now in innovation and to support a green economy, one that is in sync with the natural environment. The Horizon 2020 investment will make a significant contribution to our society and the world.

I strongly support Senator Quinn's comments on North-South collaboration. During our recent visit to Stormont, we received fine presentations from InterTradeIreland on the level of co-operation between businesses and small industry on both sides of the Border. The fact that 89 North-South projects were mobilised under the previous programme and drew down €80 million in funding augurs well for the potential of this model.

I wish the Minister of State success in driving this innovative and necessary programme. Many companies have the potential to benefit from it and a significant number of SMEs have already drawn down up to €50,000 each. Like Senator Quinn, I am anxious to ensure that it is made easier for smaller companies to gain access to this funding. I look forward to having the Minister of State appear in the House regularly to provide updates on how matters are progressing, but he should take on board our request that information on the roll-out of Horizon 2020 to small businesses be provided in a timely and professional manner so that everyone has an opportunity to benefit from the significant resources that will be made available during the next six years.

I am also pleased to hear the Minister of State say that the money will be made available through the European Union and the programme will not reduce the Government's commitment to investing in research and development into the future. We need to keep in mind that some of the things that will be manufactured and used in our world in five to ten years' time have not even been thought about yet. All we need do is look at how information technology has changed in the past decade. We can only dream and imagine what the scientists and innovators of tomorrow will create. We live in exiting and challenging times for our world and environment and I hope Ireland will play a central role in solving some of the many difficult issues that confront the world today.