James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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30. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will report on the latest EU Council discussion on investment into research and innovation in the latest framework programme. [9929/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the Deputy’s question relates to the EU Competitiveness Council (Research and Innovation) discussion on international cooperation under the framework programme Horizon 2020 which was held on 29 November 2016.

The discussions were informed by the second EU Commission Report on the Implementation of the European Strategy for International Cooperation and a Presidency document.

The discussion focussed on the framework conditions to boost international cooperation, the measures to strengthen international cooperation in and beyond the current framework programme (Horizon 2020) and the role of science diplomacy.

There was a consensus at the EU Council that there is a need to collaborate at a global level across disciplines and sectors to find effective solutions to global challenges.  

A number of delegations stressed the need for the EU Commission to raise the profile of Horizon 2020 to encourage international cooperation and to continue to support excellence in research and innovation.

As Innovation 2020 makes clear, the Government is committed to international cooperation in order to maximise the impact of international and national investment in research and innovation as part of the overall vision that Ireland should become a Global Innovation Leader.