Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the section on functions.I am just clarifying that it is an important issue. This seems to be the place where it might sit. Sorry, it is in the objects and functions. I thank the Senator for his clarifying question. The objects being the high tier. I suppose we will get into the detail on functions later. It is about making sure that things have a cascading effect throughout the legislation.

Amendment No. 25 is important. I arrived when the debate was under way. It seems this issue has already been the subject of some discussion. It relates to the importance of public research for the public good, which addresses social and environmental needs. This is not to the detriment of any individual institution. There are important and diverse institutions in the State that are doing important work. However, we need to be honest that there has been a worrying trend and emphasis, and occasionally a reliance, on private sector investment and partnerships in the third level sector. This is the result of prolonged underfunding of the higher education. While they have an important role to play, we must place an emphasis on investing in public research for the public good. Regrettably, this has not been the case. Talented postgraduates in science, arts and humanities often have to leave Ireland to continue their research overseas or give up their research ambitions due to the lack of funding. There are research topics which are important and may be the basis of key theoretical work that provides transformation in the long run may not be commercially profitable or have an immediately deliverable outcome. These can be left aside although they may be crucial in addressing the social and environmental challenges and needs faced by society.

I emphasise this because there is a lacuna. I hate to have to put it that way. In amendment No. 26, I have specifically named the issue of public-public partnerships for research between designated higher education institutions and public bodies, both in Ireland and internationally. With the assistance of Deputies, because, of course, Senators cannot do so directly, I have put forward a number of parliamentary questions on public-public research. I hate to say that the first two question came back with a response as to whether I meant public-private research. The assumption had been that I had made an error and accidentally wrote the word "public" twice. That answer came back a second time. It was only in the context of a third, very lengthy and specific parliamentary question that I got any information in respect of the public-public research that is or might be happening. I highlighted this to the Minister's predecessor, former Minister of State Mary Mitchell O'Connor.

I am concerned that many universities have memorandums of understanding around how they will form partnerships with private companies. Some of the new scholarships and grants in science and technology are partnerships with business that the State subsidises. However, public-public research has been left in the second tier. I had the opportunity, as a member of the finance committee, to discuss this with the EU Commission this morning. When it comes to the challenges we face in areas such as climate change, the environment or Covid, we cannot rely on public-private partnerships. We saw with the failure to deliver the TRIPS waiver what happens when states channel all their public money into private partnerships rather than public research for the public good. On climate, many of the most important actions we take may not be profitable for anyone but may deliver the changes we need. They may cost everyone something but they may be what we need to survive on this very fragile planet which has had ten of the hottest years in 100,000 years over the past decade. It is in that context that I emphasise this. I urge the Minister to accept this amendment and that we might have a new approach on public-public research. Let it not be the poor relation in the research agenda in future.

The Minister is looking at a research agenda in the future so I am highlighting now that this is crucial. Public innovation has the potential to go to scale, transfer to other countries and to have technology transferred to developing countries more quickly. We can bring solutions to scale at a higher level, more quickly and share them with more of the world, if we track the sustainable development goals and other goals, if we do so on a public basis with public ownership.

Is amendment No. 27 in this group?