Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 July 2016
870. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation following the decision by UK voters to leave the EU, her plans to ensure this will not impact on the current programme funding under the EU's vital Horizon 2020 research programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24196/16]
View answerThe full implications of the UK vote to leave the EU have yet to be determined. Withdrawal negotiations will not begin until Article 50 has been triggered by the UK and will probably take at least two years to complete. So there will be no change in the situation regarding UK participation in Horizon 2020 during that period.
This has been confirmed by the EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas: “Until the end of the negotiations, UK remains a member of the EU and therefore with all the rights and obligations, including in relation to research programmes like Horizon 2020”.
The contingency framework which the government has put in place explicitly addresses the potential ramifications for Ireland of Brexit in relation to Research and Innovation:
“A full assessment will be undertaken of the opportunities and threats arising from the future disengagement of the UK from the EU, including in relation to Horizon 2020 funded research. This will include the threat of a reduced overall fund if and when the UK’s contribution to the EU is withdrawn at some point. Balanced against this, there may also be new research opportunities for Ireland as a remaining member of the EU and participant in the Horizon 2020 programme to build new collaborations with industry. These opportunities will be maximised”.
It is too early to predict the outcome of the negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU on the Horizon 2020 Programme.
