Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Senators. In terms of parity of esteem, this intention is woven throughout the Bill in the existing definitions, objectives and functions. Parity of esteem needs to be realised and this is not achieved by simply inserting the words, as was discussed during the pre-legislative scrutiny process. It has been a principle of consideration at every stage of the drafting process and will continue to be a founding and core principle of the new agency.

The Bill puts arts, humanities and social sciences, AHSS, funding on a statutory basis for the first time. It changes the process for managing project teams which are applying for the funding so that researchers from AHSS disciplines can lead on these teams. Parity of esteem has been intentionally woven throughout the definitions, objectives and functions of the Bill. This is how we are going to achieve this principle in a real sense. For this reason, we do not propose to accept the amendments.

I do not propose to accept amendments Nos. 34, 43 and 80 as there is already an object in the Bill in section 8(b) relating to the principles referenced here. As I previously stated, parity of esteem was pointed out in the pre-legislative scrutiny process. It is a defining principle of the new agency and we wanted to get the term into the text of the Bill. However, this does not place any kind of obligation on anyone. It does not require them to do anything. How the principle has actively been woven throughout the definitions, objects, functions and funding sections of the Bill is a much more effective way of ensuring the principle. It gives active considerations and requirements. It sounds counterintuitive that we can better ensure parity of esteem by not having that phrase in the Bill, but that is the position we are in. We, therefore, do not propose to accept these amendments.

Proposals can come in from all career stages, all disciplines and all types of research and the agency will assess them in terms of impact, standard and quality. The best proposal will be successful, whether coming from a STEM or AHSS principal investigator, and the movement towards more interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary work is also a consideration. AHSS researchers cannot take on that principal investigator role under the existing structures and the fact that they now can, because the funding for AHSS research is on a statutory basis for the first time, is hugely significant in terms of an active representation of parity of esteem.

I also want to reference the White Paper on dual-use technologies, which is an ongoing process. The White Paper provides an opportunity to consult European stakeholders on how research and development in technologies with dual-use potential are supported at European level. Dual-use technologies have the potential to be used for both military and civil purposes. The current EU framework programme for research and innovation, Horizon Europe, exclusively funds research for civil applications. This is complemented by the European Defence Fund, which supports research for military purposes. The European Commission is seeking to assess whether the current approach is still appropriate in light of the changing geopolitical context. The White Paper explores options to facilitate cross-fertilisation between civil and defence research and development activities and create greater synergies between EU programmes. The White Paper acknowledges that enhancing the support for technologies with dual-use potential at EU level brings both opportunities and challenges. The European Commission consultation is open until 30 April. Our Department is encouraging the research and innovation community to respond to the consultation.