Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure if "The Simpsons" amendment to the Bill is going to be proposed at some stage. It could certainly be considered. Returning to the point, I am always reluctant to be overly prescriptive. If we look at the objects of the agency that are outlined in section 8, they are sufficiently broad. Section 8(c) covers "to promote and support the contribution made by research and innovation to economic, social, cultural and environmental development and sustainability in the State". I am always a little reluctant when we start to talk about ring-fencing funding and being very specific. I would point, for instance, to when Science Foundation Ireland engaged in a research prioritisation exercise and effectively listed 14 different types of research that would be its priorities and anything that fell outside that did not happen. I am a great believer in supporting blue-sky research and collaboration because I believe the poet and the engineer should be working together to solve some of our problems. In fact, solving problems requires interdisciplinarity and is not the preserve of one particular field. I appreciate the principles of the point but the objects of the agency set out in the Bill are quite broad. I would be worried, to return to an earlier point, if we were to become overly prescriptive around who sits on the board and so on. Part of it will be about setting out the agency's programme of work year on year, but that should not be going into legislation.

This is also about more than just our universities. It is about creating a research culture for all sectors of society within Ireland. Section 8 of the Bill is quite comprehensive in that regard. I encourage the Senator to propose "The Simpsons" amendment on Report Stage.