FIANNA Fail in government would keep science and technology interests at the Cabinet table and has promised to increase research spending and grant-aid for student researchers.
It also backs the creation of a science park and a "science technology and innovation forum which would link scientists here with Irish researchers abroad. They "could be harnessed in Ireland's interests", according to the party's position paper on science, technology and innovation, presented yesterday by Fianna Fail's spokesman, Mr Ned O'Keeffe.
The document points out that up to 60 per cent of Ireland's economic growth is linked to technical progress and strongly connects this progress with the need for creation. The party, it says, is conscious that taxpayers' funds should be invested in STI initiatives, with the ultimate objective of job creation and, therefore, the primary focus of these initiatives will be on business development both directly and through the education and support agency networks".
The policy draws heavily on the Science Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (STIAC) report, commissioned by Mr Seamus Brennan as Fianna Fail minister, and published in 1995. The third-level science community here will take some comfort from the party's commitments given STIAC's strident defence of this sector and its call for a much greater level of investment in university and business-related research activities.
Unlike STIAC, the Fianna Fail document is short on numbers and timescales. It does not commit the party to specific spending targets for the universities, student researchers or equipment purchases. Mr Brennan, who attended the launch, pointed to STIAC's suggestion of a four-fold increase in the existing £2,000 student researcher grant and £82 million in extra research spending within five years. He said that "in accepting the STIAC report we are going to aspire towards that" if in government.
Mr O'Keeffe acknowledged that spending on research activities here "has been very inadequate" and said that in government the party would attempt to redress this. He criticised the Government's White Paper on science, published last October, suggesting it was "flawed in many fundamental respects". He and Mr Brennan claimed it had ignored and failed to recognise the contribution made by the third-level sector to research and innovation here.
The party in government would ensure that the Minister or Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment would have responsibility for the STI brief and in either case would "have a seat at the Cabinet table in order to contribute to debate" on science.
Perhaps responding to criticisms from the science community here, the party says it will consider appointing a scientist to head "the newly restructured National Office of Science, Technology and Innovation". It adds that at least half of its personnel would be "professionally qualified".
The document promises to examine the possibility of a science and innovation park, an idea that has been examined but not acted upon by a series of governments.
It suggests the creation of a National Science, Technology and Innovation Council "with executive power and with responsibility for all STI activity", to provide planning and management of Ireland's technical capabilities. It would operate under the aegis of the Office of Science and Technology within the Department of Enterprise and Employment, which, Fianna Fail says, should be renamed the Department of Enterprise, Employment and Innovation.
