Farren Calls For All Ireland Research And Development Strategy

Following the recent announcement of a huge investment in Research and Development by the Dublin Government SDLP Trade and Enterprise Spokesperson Sean Farren has called for an all-Ireland strategy to build the Research and Development capacity of the whole island.

 Mr Farren said, “The South’s major investment plans for Research and Development over the next six years must be matched by comparable levels of investment here in the North as well as by plans to develop research projects on all-island basis where it can be to the mutual advantage of the whole island to do so.

“The immediate aim must be to increase the number of researchers and above all the quality and scope of research projects which have an economic or social application

 “A cooperative strategy for Research and Development on an all-island basis makes absolute sense. Such a strategy, jointly funded would harness the capacity and facilities of our Universities and Institutes of Technology as well as the research capacity of industry itself.

“The combined research capacity of the whole island would ensure that Ireland takes its place amongst the world’s leading countries pioneering developments essential to ensuring economic progress, tackling disadvantage, and providing our people with a high quality of life.”