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The Government is planning to strengthen the availability of scientific advice to inform decision-making across key areas ranging from climate change to cyber security.
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris announced on Wednesday that it plans to split the chief scientific advisor role from the position of director general of Science Foundation Ireland.
The positions were merged a decade ago. However, groups such as the Royal Irish Academy have argued that the role of chief scientific advisor should not be combined with the head of a national research under in order to protect the role’s independence and avoid potential conflicts of interests.
In addition, Mr Harris said a public consultation will commence early next year on what science advice structures are the best model for Ireland.
“We are facing significant challenges as a society and like Covid-19, it will be science that will help steer us through those obstacles,” he said.
“The Government now has an opportunity to consider the role of science in our decision-making processes and how it affects our policy responses.”
Fianna Fail’s spokesman on higher education Senator Malcolm Byrne welcomed the move and suggested the establishment of a scientific advisory council to support the Government’s chief scientific advisor.
He said there were similar operations in the Netherlands, France and US which advise their governments on strategic issues that are likely to have important social and political consequences.
“We have seen the benefit of independent advisory councils in terms of climate change and economic policy. We cannot expect the Government’s chief scientific advisor to have a knowledge of every issue ranging from nanotechnology to artificial intelligence.”
Public submissions
Prof Philip Nolan, former president of Maynooth University, is due to succeed the current director general of Science Foundation Ireland, Prof Mark Ferguson in mid-January.
Both have received praise for their contributions to the State’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Separately, Mr Harris said the Government has received over 5,000 submissions from the public to the “Creating our Future” campaign, which is seeking ideas on future areas of research.
“If we want to make this country a better place to live and prosper, then we need ideas that will challenge our researchers and innovators,” he said.
“We need the people of Ireland to tell them what difficulties they believe need to be addressed, what challenges need to be tackled and what ideas they have for making our society as fair and inclusive as possible.
He said all submissions will be considered by expert panels and the results of their findings will be brought to Government and subsequently published early next year.
The report will help inform research, innovation science technology policy across Government.