Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 November 2016
15. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation following the publication of Innovation 2020, the mechanism in place to review progress and ensure targets in the strategy are being met on an annual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32997/16]
View answerFollowing the publication of Innovation 2020, which set out a number of targets for research, innovation and such matters, what measures are in place to quantify, track and, if necessary, remediate progress towards those targets?
I am taking this on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy John Halligan. He had a prearranged appointment and the questions were supposed to be taken next week.
It is not the first time he has gone missing. Will he be here on the next occasion?
A cross-governmental implementation group has been established to drive and ensure a coherent approach to the implementation of Innovation 2020. The group, chaired by my Department, consists of representatives from Government Departments, research funding agencies and the chief scientific adviser to the Government.
Innovation 2020 commits the implementation group to reporting annually to the Cabinet committee on the implementation of the strategy, including providing progress on the levels of investment required to reach our research and development investment target of 2.5% of GNP by 2020. In July of this year, a report on the progress of implementation to date was presented to the senior officials group and to the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and jobs. The progress report was noted by Government on 19 July 2016. The progress report was published and is available at djei.ie.
A number of high-level national indicators with associated targets to 2020 have been selected to measure success in implementing the strategy. Effective and timely delivery of the range of actions in the strategy will also be key indicators of success. The delivery of key actions will also be monitored through the annual Action Plan for Jobs process. As the Minister, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, said, we are working on it with stakeholders and the Action Plan for Jobs 2017 will be published in February or March of 2017. A mid-term review will be carried out to ensure that we are on track for delivery and that any necessary adjustments can be made in a timely manner.
I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, for standing in for missing-in-action Minister of State, Deputy Halligan. We will watch that space.
My colleagues and I are not aware of the cross-party group to which the Minister of State referred. I would seek further information on it. To my knowledge, it has not met. If it has, Fianna Fáil has not been invited. This is of concern. Science and research are very important to our nation in terms of education and the economy. It is well understood that pure research drives economic and scientific advancements. A recent Financial Times editorial championed it and it needs to be prioritised by advanced economies. The Government's approach has been to drop it down the scale and focus on commercial activity and, in terms of technology readiness, prioritise those areas closest to market. This not research but product development. An article in yesterday's Irish Independent said, "the Government here is unusually weak when it comes to direct funding of innovation". We are second last in the EU bloc. We need to see what is going to be done to change this, how it will be tackled, when the mid-term review will be and when the cross-party group will meet. My colleagues and I are not aware that it has met.
The Innovation 2020 implementation group, which is chaired by the assistant secretary general of the Department, comprises representatives from other Departments, including the research funding agencies and the Government chief scientific adviser. The group has responsibility for driving and overseeing the implementation of actions and strategy. The group has met twice already in 2016 and one more meeting will be held before the end of the year. At the meetings, the group agreed a work programme for 2016 and compiled a progress report which was presented to senior officials of the group and the Cabinet sub-committee on the economy, trade and jobs. The Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, has brought the report before the Cabinet in conjunction with the Minister, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, and this was noted in July. A draft work programme for 2017 is being put together by officials of the Department and the Department will be financed in time for the meeting of the implementation group which is to take place later in the year.
I am concerned. I am trying to be constructive and we wish to contribute constructively to this portfolio. However, the cross-party group has morphed into a cross-departmental sub-committee. I am none the wiser as to what exactly the group is and we have not been party to its deliberations. During the course of the Minister of State's answer, it seems to have changed from a cross-party group to some sort of departmental sub-committee. Either way, this matter needs to be taken seriously. There are targets in Innovation 2020. We stress that these are not ambitious enough. Be that as it may, they must be measured, monitored and actioned and resources must be allocated in respect of them. The available data suggest none of this is the case. I have spoken to people in the scientific community and researchers at home and abroad - individuals who are overseas and who may be considering returning to Ireland - and they have all informed me that the single thing they need is a multi-annual commitment. They need to know if they are to move their research hubs or bases to Ireland that they will be supported with funding on a multi-annual basis. These are fundamental, basic tenets which do not appear to be contemplated in the strategy.
The budget for 2017 saw a 5% increase, amounting to over €15 million, for the Department's innovation programme, with a capital provision of just under €323 million, which has increased from €307 million. The budget also introduced measures to support small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs, along with the lower 10% tax for capital gains relief as well. That will encourage and reward those who are at risk in starting a business that generates growth and jobs. Savings have been identified in the Department and they have been redirected to the research and development programme.
With regard to Innovation 2020 and the implementation group, 53 actions were initiated in 2016 and 45 actions were initiated-----
Do not go into the 45 actions.
I will not go through them. There was an increase in research masters and PhD enrolments, going from 1,750 in 2015 to 2,250 in disciplines aligned to enterprise and other initiative needs as well. Much has been done but more needs to be done. With the economy on the turn, it is important that we continue to work on innovation and ensure funding is made available so the group can continue its work.
