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

While we recognise and support the intentions relating to amendments Nos. 44, 91 and 92, the partnerships described are already possible and facilitated under section 49 of the Bill. In being very detailed and prescriptive, this could become a limiting provision. The policy areas described are all encompassed by the existing provisions in section 8(d) and (f). The aspects the agency will focus on will be based on the needs of society and these could change dramatically over time. The intention of these amendments is, therefore, already captured within the existing provision. The agency has these powers and there is no need to repeat a provision that is already contained in the Bill. Therefore, we do not propose to accept these amendments.

Regarding amendment No. 79, this is the existing policy intention. Funding award processes will be independent and will adhere to international good practice. "Impartial" is not quite at home here because the agency will be bearing other considerations in mind such as parity of esteem, inclusive practices and balance of distribution.The objects and principles laid out in the Bill require the new agency to promote the highest standards of openness and transparency, ethics and integrity. By definition, this means that funding and awards will operate in an open and transparent manner. Funding award assessment processes will be independent and will adhere to good international practice, as I have already said. There may be additional criteria or weighting added to a decision process to ensure that not all of the available funding goes towards one type of research or to ensure inclusive practices in terms of equality, diversity and inclusion. All of this will be done transparently but it may not necessarily be entirely impartial. For this reason, we do not propose to accept the amendment.