Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the announcement yesterday by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys, at the University of Limerick, UL, of a €47 million investment between Science Foundation Ireland, funded by the Government, and the heads of industry. UL will be the lead partner in it and it will involve University College Cork, the Tyndall Institute, Limerick Institute of Technology, the National University of Ireland, Galway, Athlone Institute of Technology, the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and Cork Institute of Technology. It focuses on robotics and artificial intelligence. Visiting the stands from the institutes yesterday was very worthwhile. There will be 55 jobs there initially, with 100 high-end jobs to be created. It is also a question of highlighting what will happen in the future. Much research and work had been put into each of the projects especially on 3D and futuristic projects.

Mary Immaculate College announced its new president today. I wish Professor Eugene Wall all the best in his new role. He has been the acting president for the past year and a half. I congratulate him on his appointment.