Skip to main content
Normal View

Science Foundation Ireland

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 October 2018

Thursday, 18 October 2018

Questions (198)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

198. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the meetings that have taken place with the director general of Science Foundation Ireland in respect of the defunding of an institution (details supplied); the details of minutes supplied to her by her officials; the details of notes supplied by the director general to the meeting; and the details of her conclusions arising from the meeting. [43091/18]

View answer

Written answers

I met with Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Ms Ann Riordan, Chair of Science Foundation Ireland on 3 July 2018. I was not supplied with any notes by the Director General for the meeting nor did my officials supply me with minutes.

At this meeting I was advised of the outcome of an international review process in respect of the seven (Phase 1) SFI Research Centres.

I was also advised that the Board of Science Foundation Ireland had followed the recommendation of an International Oversight Review Panel not to provide a new term of funding for the INFANT Research Centre at this time. Instead, it is to be invited to submit a new application for funding to the next open competition for SFI Research Centre funding in 2020.

I am advised that the decisions on the review process were communicated to all the Centres involved by the Director General of SFI by 6 July.

I am further advised that Science Foundation Ireland also provided detailed feedback to the Centres on the outcome of the review process. In the case of the INFANT Research Centre, a feedback meeting took place on 13 July.

Science Foundation Ireland is an independent agency who have run an international review process in line with best practice. I, as Minister, cannot intervene in that process.

Top
Share