Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 4

Written Answers. - Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

21 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the EU peace fund allows for co-operation between cross-Border science and technology schemes; and if, as President of the EU Research Council of Ministers, he will ensure that research projects into low-level radiation are given priority by the EU. [19152/96]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

I am satisfied that the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties contains suitable provisions to provide for co-operation between suitable cross-Border science and technology projects.

To date, however, most such co-operation has been supported under the International Fund for Ireland which finances a special science and technology programme aimed at putting in place a capability and infrastructure that will lead to innovation and technology transfer for the benefit of Irish industry as a whole.

Up to 1995 the programme concentrated primarily on supporting the establishment of technology innovation centres. These represent partnerships between industry and third level colleges, North and South, to help companies to become more competitive by encouraging innovation and research. The centres are directed by industry-led boards who make sure that the research work has a commercial focus. In 1996 the fund also established a new programme of financial assistance called RADIUS (Research and Development between Ireland and the United States) modelled on the successful US/Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Programme. The new scheme will seek to stimulate, promote and support joint ventures in product and process development between manufacturing or internationally tradeable service companies based in Ireland and the United States. Conditional grants of up to 50 per cent of the total eligible and approved project costs are available under the terms of the scheme.

The second part of the question refers, I presume, to the draft EU 5th Framework Programme discussions which were launched under the Irish Presidency. The formulation of the 5th Framework Programme is a complex and challenging task and there are many elements to be considered. The European Commission has produced a Strategy Paper "Inventing Tomorrow"— Europe's Research at the Service of its People. At the Research Council on 7 October, which I chaired, Ministers had a first political orientation debate about the key guidelines which will serve as the basis for a detailed proposal for the 5th Framework Programme and which will determine European Union action in this area into the next millennium. At this stage the debate is about the fundamental building blocks — the design and architecture of the 5th Framework Programme — whether it should be more relevant to European industrial needs, provide value for money, be more focused, concentrated, flexible, responsive etc. It must clearly respond to the competitive challenges facing European industry; it must recognise the contribution which SMEs can make to greater European innovation; it must move Europe's consciousness to the front-line of the information society.

Science and technology also impinge on other aspects of our lives, in relation to the environment, agriculture, food, industrial technologies, health, transport, marine and even to the preservation of our ancient monuments. The framework programme, therefore, should be relevant to all these needs in society. Inevitably resources will be limited and there will be a need for prioritisation.

The present process will culminate in the Commission producing a formal detailed proposal next spring. Detailed negotiations will then start on the individual constituent parts. Within the nuclear fission safety area, radiation protection research should get a priority and in particular the improvement of our understanding of the effects of low-level radiation.