Research and innovation portfolio is key to future economic growth - Irish Fianna Fáil MEPs

Fianna Fáil MEPs Pat the Cope Gallagher, Liam Aylward and Brian Crowley have strongly welcomed the allocation of the portfolio of Research and Innovation to the Irish Commissioner-Designate Máire Geoghegan-Quinn.

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP said; “This is a serious economic portfolio. Research and innovation will play a key role in supporting economic recovery in Ireland and in Europe. Between January 2007 and December 2008, 418 Irish companies secured over 107 million Euro under the current 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. This means that Irish companies are drawing down over 1 million Euro per week for research and technological development."

Mr. Gallagher stated that; "Ireland must remain as a world leader in technological development. This is how Ireland can create and maintain new jobs and develop a stronger, greener and smarter economy."

Liam Aylward MEP said that this is a "key portfolio in the current economic climate as research and innovation are central to creating and delivering jobs in Ireland and in Europe. Moreover, this should open new opportunities for foreign direct investment in Ireland. Strengthening the knowledge economy represents a key tool in developing future economic growth in Ireland and in Europe.”


Brian Crowley MEP said; "Maire Geoghegan Quinn's portfolio includes the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, which supports a range of new technologies across a spectrum of economic sectors including food, agriculture, fisheries and information and communication technologies. I look forward to working closely with Commissioner-Designate Geoghegan Quinn as a member of the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee, which is the primary committee that this portfolio deals with."