Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 123: To ask the Taoiseach the members of the innovation task force; and the number of times it has met since its appointment. [41005/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I appointed the Innovation Taskforce on 29 June 2009 to advise the Government on its strategy for positioning Ireland as an International Innovation Development Hub and to assist in making the Smart Economy a reality.

The Innovation Taskforce members have a wide range of expertise and include individuals with global experience in international companies and entrepreneurs who have recently established and grown successful start-up companies. There is also representation from the higher-education sector and senior representatives from a number of Departments and Agencies. A list of the full membership is attached.

The Taskforce has met in plenary session on three occasions so far– on 17 July, 25 September and 30 October. In addition a full-day consultation meeting for Taskforce members was held on 19 October. The next plenary meeting is scheduled for 14 December.

The Taskforce has established four Working Groups focusing on more specific aspects of its terms of reference to advance particular items. These Working Groups, chaired by Private Sector members of the Taskforce, are meeting regularly.

Appendix 1: Membership of the Innovation Taskforce

Mr. Dermot McCarthy (Chair) Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach

Mr. Lionel Alexander VP and GM, Hewlett Packard (Manufacturing) Ltd.

Professor Don Barry President, University of Limerick

Dr. Hugh Brady President, University College Dublin

Mr. Damien Callaghan Investment Director, Intel Capital

Mr. Michael Carmody President, Institute of Technology, Tralee

Dr. Steven Collins Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Kore Virtual Machines

Mr. Ned Costello Chief Executive, Irish Universities Association

Professor Frank Gannon Director General, Science Foundation Ireland

Mr. Seán Gorman Secretary General, Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment

Mr. Joe Harford Chair of the High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise

Dr. John Hegarty Provost, Trinity College Dublin

Dr. Chris Horn Co-founder & former Chief Executive Officer Iona Technologies

Dr. Brian Kelly Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Celtic Catalysts

Mr. Michael Kelly Chairman, Higher Education Authority

Dr. Burton Lee Stanford University School of Engineering,

Mr. John Lynch Chief Executive Officer, Merrion Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Ms. Tara MacMahon IP Lawyer

Mr. Dan Mac Sweeney Chief Executive Officer, Carbery

Ms. Brigid McManus Secretary General, Dept. of Education and Science

Mr. Bryan Mohally VP Supply Chain Operations Europe, Johnson & Johnson

Mr. Jim O'Brien Second Secretary, Department of Finance

Mr. Mark O'Donovan Director, Raglan Capital

Mr. Barry O'Leary Chief Executive Officer, IDA Ireland

Mr. Barry O'Sullivan Senior Vice-President, Cisco Systems

Dr. Paul Roben President Celtic Consulting

Mr. Frank Ryan Chief Executive, Enterprise Ireland

Ms. Anna Scally Partner, KPMG