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

The new agency will play a critical role in driving change and finding innovative solutions to enable us to thrive, integrating climate action and sustainability into all of its functions. The new agency will be following on from the excellent ongoing work of both agencies in that regard, with a mandate to foster co-operation across the research and innovation ecosystem, to protect and restore our biodiversity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and minimise waste and pollution. Looking towards a circular economy and a zero carbon future, the agency will support the accessibility of new knowledge-generated research talent development and improved research practices to accelerate Ireland's transition to sustainability.

In the period 2020 to 2022, Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, committed €35 million to new competitive research awards for climate-related research, including co-funded partnerships with the Geological Survey of Ireland, the SEAI, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Irish Aid. In addition to these new awards, SFI launched the national challenge fund in 2022, providing €65 million in funding under the EU's recovery and resilience fund. Teams of researchers are being funded to work towards addressing the green and digital transitions. SFI and Irish Aid have also collaborated in partnerships between Irish researchers and researchers in Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, Vietnam, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone. The work of Irish Aid in this regard is outstanding and the new agency will continue to support these efforts. The shared island initiative supports a €74 million co-centred research collaboration between the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is focused on climate research, sustainability and resilient food systems, biodiversity and water. The response to the climate crisis requires clear, joined-up thinking and policy to be informed by evidence gathered through research. The climate crisis is a global challenge that requires broad collaboration and a transdisciplinary approach.Taighde Éireann will be committed to supporting and investing further in vital research and innovation that supports the decarbonisation agenda, a just transition and a sustainable future for all. By aligning the new agency's efforts with national and international policies, we will ensure it plays its part in contributing to the achievement of Ireland's climate targets and our transition to a sustainable future.