The Royal Irish Academy Oireachtas Science Pairing Scheme was launched on Monday, 18 November in the Royal Irish Academy.
The scheme, which will run from November 2019 to March 2020, pairs Oireachtas Members with experienced scientists. It gives parliamentarians the opportunity to learn about the science behind issues of current concern and introduces scientists to the workings of the Oireachtas and the legislative and policy-making process. The scheme is supported by the Geological Survey of Ireland.
The pairing scheme directly supports the Houses of the Oireachtas Service strategic objective of an open and engaged parliament. The Oireachtas Library & Research Service (L&RS) has worked directly with the RIA in support of this initiative. The partnership delivers on the L&RS’s strategic objective of greater academic engagement.
Image: Professor Fiona Regan and Senator Anthony Lawlor, who are paired under the scheme / Maxwell Photography