Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2024-04-23
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Alice-Mary Higgins (IND), National University of Ireland

I thank the Minister for his reply. I would like him to come back on a few points because it would be very useful to me in terms of whether I have to table any amendments on Report Stage. Some of what he said is quite positive but perhaps he could just clarify some points again.
Am I right that in the phrase "use" that is currently in the Bill, the understanding of "use" does encompass foundational or frontier research and that it is not necessarily used in an immediate utilitarian application but as part of the furthering of knowledge, understanding or research? The Minister will be aware that this is one of the key issues, which comes up again and again across the research community, that is, the fear that frontier, foundational or basic research that encompasses the nuts and bolts is not included.
I am therefore glad the Minister mentioned that. It would be really useful and, I think, reassuring to many people if he were to reconfirm that that is the case.
The Minister mentioned "depth and breadth of knowledge". Is that, rather than "stock of knowledge", a phrase he would be open to looking at? It captures it much better.
I recognise in what the Minister has said about his understanding that a lot of the language is really good. I just wonder if he could reassure me on that point and then let me know his thoughts on the "depth and breadth" point.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2024-04-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:51+00:00
Sitting date: 2024-04-23