Research Agency

Table of Contents

Research and Innovation Act 2024

The purpose of the Research and Innovation Act 2024 is to provide a legal basis for the establishment and functions of a new competitive research funding agency, Taighde Éireann, through the amalgamation of the functions and activities of Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council, combining and building on their respective missions.

Science Foundation Ireland is dissolved, and all assets, liabilities and employees will transfer to Taighde Éireann. The legislation provides for the repeal of certain provisions of the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland Act 2003 and the Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Act 2014; and amendments to the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 to provide for the transfer of certain members of staff, records, assets and liabilities relating to research of An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas to Taighde Éireann.

The core objectives of the Research and Innovation legislation are:

The Agency shall have regard to the following objects in performing its functions:

to promote the attainment and maintenance of excellence in the standard and quality of research and innovation undertaken;
to support the undertaking of research and innovation in all fields of activity and disciplines by researchers with different levels of knowledge, experience and specialist skills in such fields or disciplines;
to promote and support the contribution made by research and innovation to economic, social, cultural and environmental development and sustainability in the State;
to strengthen the engagement of the research and innovation system with— the Government, Ministers of the Government and bodies (whether statutory or otherwise) which are funded wholly or partly by public moneys, and enterprise, non-governmental organisations, cultural institutions and society generally;
to promote and develop the reputation of the State internationally as a location that is favourable for undertaking research and innovation;
to advance the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion with regard to opportunities to undertake research and innovation and in the undertaking of that research and innovation.

The legislation clarifies overall policy development in relation to research and innovation as the responsibility of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The creation of a new statutory research funding agency forms part of Impact 2030, Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy, which was approved by Government in April 2022 (S180/20/10/1566H).

Taighde Eireann

The Act includes provisions for the Objects and Functions of Taighde Éireann, its Board and staff, along with governance, financial and transitional arrangements, and the role of the Minister. The new research and innovation agency will make competitive funding awards across all disciplines and of varying sizes in a way that complements the Higher Education Authority’s core investment in the higher education institutions.

The legislation strengthens the position of Taighde Éireann to make a key contribution, nationally fostering new research and innovation partnerships and collaborations between enterprise, community, government and the wider research and innovation sector. Taighde Éireann will support institutions in providing research and evidence to support policy making and implementation.

The new agency will promote research and innovation which supports the development and competitiveness of enterprise and employment in the State, both nationally and in terms of regional development, in co- operation and collaboration with Enterprise Ireland.

The legislation also outlines the key role Taighde Éireann will have in enhancing engagement with European research and innovation programmes, Shared Island initiatives, US and global research and innovation partnerships. Overall, the creation of the agency will contribute to the deeper integration and coordination of funders and programmes, as well as highlighting the importance of challenge-based funding in realising shared goals such as the twin green and digital transitions.

Establishment and functions of Agency

The Minister shall, by order, appoint a day to be the establishment day of Taighde Éireann. The Act provides for the establishment of Taighde Éireann on establishment day, in accordance with the provisions in the Act. It also sets out standard provisions relating to its corporate nature and official seal.

There are statutory objects which Taighde Éireann will have regard to when undertaking its functions. The core objectives of the Research and Innovation legislation are:

to promote the attainment and maintenance of excellence in the standard and quality of research and innovation undertaken;
to support the undertaking of research and innovation in all fields of activity and disciplines by researchers with different levels of knowledge, experience and specialist skills in such fields or disciplines;
to promote and support the contribution made by research and innovation to economic, social, cultural and environmental development and sustainability in the State;
to strengthen the engagement of the research and innovation system with the Government, Ministers of the Government and bodies (whether statutory or otherwise) which are funded wholly or partly by public moneys, and enterprises, non-governmental organisations, cultural institutions and society generally;
to promote and develop the reputation of the State internationally as a location that is favourable for undertaking research and innovation;
to advance the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion with regard to opportunities to undertake research and innovation and in the undertaking of that research and innovation.

The agency is also be focused on economic, social, cultural and environmental development and sustainability in the State, and these are considerations for planning programmes and assessing the impact of funded research.

In bringing together a unified national system of research and Government, the agency will also cooperate and collaborate with Ministers of the Government and public bodies, enterprise, non- governmental organisations, cultural institutions and wider society.

The agency will also work to promote and develop the reputation of the State internationally as a favourable destination for undertaking research and innovation.

Equality, diversity and inclusion, both with regard to opportunities to undertake research and innovation, and in the undertaking of that research and innovation, is captured in the objects as a core principle of the agency.

Functions of Agency

The functions of the Agency shall be to—

promote the objects of the Agency,
promote and develop research and innovation in the State by designing and administering funding schemes, in accordance with international good practice, for the award and disbursement of funding for research and innovation in accordance with Part 3,
support the development and maintenance of a national system of research and innovation, in co-operation and collaboration with An tÚdarás, Enterprise Ireland and the other bodies to which section 48 applies and such other persons and bodies in the higher education and research system or the research and innovation system as the Agency considers appropriate,
promote research and innovation which supports the development and competitiveness of enterprise and employment in the State, nationally and regionally, and to so do, in co-operation and collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and the other bodies to which the Act applies,
promote the engagement, retention and development of the skills and capacity of researchers of an excellent standard in the national system of research and innovation and, as may be appropriate, to so do in co-operation with An tÚdarás and the other bodies to which the Act applies,
promote the attracting to the State of research and innovation teams of an excellent standard, and individuals with an interest in research and innovation of an excellent standard, with a view to their carrying out research and innovation in the State,
in co-operation with An tÚdarás, promote and support the undertaking of research and innovation in the higher education and research system and in the research and innovation system,
in co-operation with An tÚdarás, contribute to the development, assessment and evaluation of research and innovation to ensure that a standard and quality of excellence are consistently adhered to by those in the research and innovation system,
in co-operation with An tÚdarás, to promote the links and mutual benefits between research and innovation undertaken
and teaching and learning activities in the higher education system,
promote the success of research and innovation undertaken in the State which is supported by awards of funding made by an international or European Union body, institution or organisation,
promote co-operation and collaboration with regard to research and innovation between those who fund or undertake research and innovation in the State and those who do so in Northern Ireland,
assess and evaluate the outcomes and, where appropriate, the impact on economic, social, cultural and environmental development and sustainability grounds of research and innovation undertaken for which funding is awarded by the Agency,
promote and support an awareness and understanding of the value of research and innovation to society and facilitate engagement of members of the public with those engaged in research and innovation activities,
support the undertaking of research and innovation that informs the development of public policy and encourages and facilitates the collation and sharing of findings of research and innovation for that purpose,
enter into funding partnerships in accordance with section 46, and
advise the Minister in relation to national policy on research and innovation in accordance with section 14.

The Act provides for the appointment and remuneration of consultants, advisers, and assessors by Taighde Éireann as it considers necessary for the performance of its functions.

Ministerial Powers and Information

The Minister may give a direction in writing to Taighde Éireann requiring the agency to comply with any matter referred to in the Act, including any other enactment or the implementation of any policy or objective of the Minister or the Government. It provides that Taighde Éireann comply with such direction and inform the Minister of the measures taken to comply. It also provides that the Minister may amend or revoke any such direction in writing. The Minister will not have the power to give a direction relating to a decision concerning the content of a funding scheme or the making of an award of funding in any particular case under a scheme.

The Minister may issue guidelines in writing to Taighde Éireann for the purposes of the Act which may relate to codes of practice for governance or other codes, additional policy guidance or changes in policy and changes in prioritisation of the corporate plan commitments of Taighde Éireann. The Agency shall have regard to any guidelines issued by the Minister in performing its functions under the Act.

Taighde Éireann shall provide reports and information to the Minister in such form and manner and at such time as the Minister may specify on any matter related to the performance of the functions of the Agency. Taighde Éireann may provide advice to the Minister on any matter related to the performance of its functions. It shall provide advice as requested by the Minister on any matter related to the performance of the functions of Taighde Éireann .

Board of Agency

Taighde Éireann has a Board established under the Act to perform the functions of Taighde Éireann. The Board will oversee the preparation and adoption of the corporate plan and the annual plan for Taighde Éireann and their submission to the Minister.

The Board will satisfy itself that appropriate systems, procedures and practices are in place in Taighde Éireann, and will establish and implement arrangements for the management of the performance of the Chief Executive Officer.

The Board is accountable to the Minister for the performance of its functions. The Board may delegate in writing certain functions to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board will notify the Minister in writing of any delegation made, or of a revocation of such delegation. The Board will have 12 members (a chairperson and 11 ordinary members) and that all appointments are made by the Minister.

The board will consist of persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have sufficient experience and expertise in certain competencies. It also provides that one of the members to be appointed to the Board will be required to have experience and expertise relating to enterprise, and will be nominated for such appointment by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The Board authority may establish committees, to assist and advise it in relation to the performance of any of its functions. Terms and conditions of members of Board and of committees provides for gender balance on the Board, and that the terms of office of the members shall not exceed 4 years, and that members may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms of office up to a maximum of 8 years.

Funding and Accountability of Agency

An advance is provided to Taighde Éireann each year out of money provided by the Oireachtas, by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, for the purposes of expenditure by Taighde Éireann in the performance of its functions. Taighde Éireann shall prepare and adopt a corporate plan.

The corporate plan will include the objectives, outputs and related strategies for higher education of Taighde Éireann. It will include a review and evaluation of the work of Taighde Éireann in the performance of its statutory functions in the previous 5 years. The plan will accord with the guidelines, policies and objectives of the Minister and the Government as they relate to the functions of Taighde Éireann, and the agency will consult with the Minister, An tÚdarás, Enterprise Ireland, and the Industrial Development Agency, and any other persons or bodies it considers appropriate in developing the plan.

Taighde Éireann must prepare and submit an annual plan to the Minister. The annual plan will outline the proposed activities and related performance targets for Taighde Éireann for the period, and that the plan will specify the proposed allocation of the total resources (both financial and persons) of Taighde Éireann for the period, and the monitoring arrangements for performance targets, and the reporting arrangements to the Minister.

The plan must detail how the agency will have regard to its and contain any other information specified by the Minister, and it must accord with the guidelines, policies and objectives of the Minister and the Government as they relate to the functions of Taighde Éireann. The annual plan will have regard to the corporate plan and any direction given by the Minister with regard to the annual plan.

The Minister may direct Taighde Éireann in writing to amend the plan if, in his or her opinion, the plan does not contain the information required or does not comply with any of the requirements in this section. Taighde Éireann will be required to inform the Minister of the measures taken with regard to the activities determined in the plan, and the performance targets, and of their outcome, and provide that information at intervals specified by the Minister or in the annual report.

Accounts

The Act provides for the keeping of accounts by Taighde Éireann in such form as approved by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; the submission of the accounts for audit to the Comptroller and Auditor General; the submission of the accounts to the Minister immediately after completion of the Audit and the laying of the accounts and the report on the accounts before each House of the Oireachtas.

Taighde Éireann prepares and submits to the Minister an annual report by 30th June each year. The annual report shall include information on the performance of the functions of Taighde Éireann during the previous year. This report shall be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and shall be published in an appropriate manner.

CEO & Staff

There is to be a Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Board with the consent of the Minister. The Act outlines the functions of the Chief Executive Officer and provides that the Chief Executive Officer is required to provide information to the Board and can delegate functions to another employee (other than certain functions specified by the Board) but remains accountable for delegated functions. There are standard provisions for the accountability of the Chief Executive Officer to the Public Accounts Committee and other Oireachtas Committees.

Taighde Éireann can employ staff members in accordance with terms and conditions approved by the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. It provides for the payment of remuneration and allowances for expenses as approved by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. New appointees to Taighde Éireann shall be a member of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme or the superannuation scheme of Taighde Éireann, as appropriate. The Science Foundation Ireland or Irish Research Council staff or employees who transfer to Taighde Éireann continue in membership of the Single Public Service Pension scheme or the superannuation scheme of Taighde Éireann as appropriate. It provides that Taighde Éireann may with the Minister’s approval amend the superannuation scheme/s of Taighde Éireann.