Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson for education and further and higher education, I know we spent many hours here debating this really important legislation with our current Taoiseach and former Minister, Simon Harris. The then Minister spent time with his team and the officials from the Department to engage across the board, particularly on Committee Stage, and to consider amendments that were proposed across the House. A lot of good work was done on that as well as during the debate in this House.

As regards Taighde Éireann, researchers talk about the impact of what they are doing at any level of research or the stage they are at. Such impact statements are crucial. That was brought about a number of years ago in terms of applications for funding. Such impact statements refer to the impact of the research in its current form, in its potential form and in how it could be applied in the future. That is how we see how research will be used and will have an impact for people on the ground. It is key that that is always applied to research, no matter what stage it is at.