Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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218. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation why she did not appoint a Minister of State with specific responsibility for science and research; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13985/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Government recently appointed two Ministers of State to my Department. John Halligan T.D. serves in my Department as Minister of State with special responsibility for Training and Skills. Pat Breen T.D. serves as Minister of State with special responsibility for Enterprise and Small Business.

Research and development, science and innovation are important priority areas for my Department, and it is my intention to assign these specific areas of policy to Minister of State Halligan. The functions in relation to the research and development, science and innovation aspect of Minister of State Halligan’s portfolio will be similar to those of his predecessor.