Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2022
352. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that his Department has taken to develop public-public research partnerships (details supplied) in Ireland excluding within the EU horizons framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22226/22]
View answer“Public-public research partnerships” in this context are taken to mean partnerships which have formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in place and are actively supporting research projects.
The involvement of research stakeholders including the public, patients, public policy makers, public service users in research development and implementation is crucial to understanding the cause and effect of our most complex societal challenges - housing, reaching Ireland’s emissions targets, and delivering an effective public health service.
Our recent public health crisis has demonstrated the extra capacity that Government gains by working with researchers and the public to inform Departments' rapid response to policy and practice decision-making. This connectedness is now pivotal to rebuilding the social and economic wellbeing of Ireland.
The measures taken by my Department, through the auspices of both the SFI and the IRC to develop public-public research partnerships are set out in the attached documents.
