James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are two issues. First is the issue of sensitive information, and how much of that is in the report the Minister gets and how much of it is appropriate to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas given the implications for innovators. Second is a conceptual issue that is bothering me a bit, which is that there is an expenditure here. This is purely putative at the outset. If somebody does not come to develop and innovate, there is nothing to be saved because there is no income.

We are seeking to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to innovate in this country. We have gone through all the details of what would qualify. It is like a pyramid. Of all those who come in at the process how many get through the process? Of those that get through the process, how many, on reflection, decide it will not be commercially viable and do not bother? At the top of the apex very few come through with something innovative that is produced either here or elsewhere and they can get a reduced rate of corporate tax on that. That is what this is about. We are seeking to encourage them to invest time, energy, effort, science and money to engage in these processes, which of itself will create jobs and help our economy, but equally will provide considerable encouragement for people to become involved in the sciences and all other areas around education that would lead to improvements in this regard.

There is continual talk about a cost implication; there is no money here until money is created.