Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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44. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views that the consultation period for a successor to the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation was too short and too rushed for meaningful stakeholder engagement and consultation; and if he will consider extending it. [18338/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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To ensure its development benefits from a whole of Government perspective, formulation of the successor to the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation has been tasked to an Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) on Science, Technology and Innovation, which comprises membership from relevant Government Departments and the Higher Education Authority, along with the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government.

In October 2014, my Department contacted key stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem to outline our plans for the development of the new Strategy, setting out the range of issues which will be under consideration in its formulation and inviting them to identify key policy statements or analyses that could usefully inform the process. A consultation paper was then prepared as a scene setter which provided details of the current position in relation to the range of relevant issues including, inter alia, investment in Science, Technology and Innovation for economic and societal benefit, the development of human capital, the transfer of knowledge into jobs, delivering research excellence, and the value of international collaboration to Ireland.

The detailed consultation paper was circulated by the IDC on 13th February 2015 with the views of stakeholders sought by the closing date of 23rd March 2015. The consultation paper was also posted on the websites of IDC members. In advance of the consultation paper being issued, I met with each of the heads of the Universities and with the IoTI RD&I Group and DIT’s Head of Research, and to get their views and to invite their formal written submissions following issue of the paper.

While the deadline has not been extended, my Department has been very flexible in the approach taken with regard to the closing date for receipt of submissions. More than half of the total of 80 submissions received were accepted after the original deadline had passed, the latest having been received on 7th May – giving a total of 12 weeks since the publication of the consultation paper which in my view is more than adequate. Each of these submissions is being considered in detail by my Department and, in due course, by the Interdepartmental Committee. Following this analysis, stakeholders will also be invited to attend a consultative workshop designed to address key issues arising from the written consultation phase and the ongoing work of the Committee. This comprehensive approach to consultation will ensure that the full range of stakeholders’ views will be proactively considered in the formulation of the new Strategy.