From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan has today announced 1 August 2024 as the establishment day of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, Ireland’s new competitive research and innovation funding agency.
The new agency amalgamates the activities and functions of the Irish Research Council (IRC) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and will capitalise on the recognised strengths of these two agencies in driving world class research and innovation in Ireland.
The establishment of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland is the keystone of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy , and the new agency will be central to realising the ambitions set out in the strategy.
Announcing the establishment today, Minister O’Donovan said:
"This is a really significant day for our research and innovation community. The establishment of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland represents a step-change in how research and innovation will be funded, maximising the impact of national competitive research and innovation funding. This new agency will be a vital support in building the successful future of research and innovation in Ireland, engaging national challenges like the green and digital transitions, and boosting our international standing as research innovators in emerging fields and the opportunities ahead.
"I’m also pleased to announce the appointment of the Chairperson of the new agency Board, Michael Horgan, who will bring significant governance and leadership experience to drive the new agency forward, achieving its strategic goals and enabling Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland to fulfil the ambitions set out in Impact 2030.
"The establishment of this new agency is a real opportunity to develop an enhanced new approach, fully integrating all aspects of the research and innovation ecosystem.
"Researchers can be reassured that there will be no interruption to ongoing services and funding programmes while the new agency is being set up, for anyone who is currently participating in IRC and SFI Programmes. There are positive changes ahead, but they’ll be implemented in a carefully planned way, so that our researchers can be confident in this new agency and focus on the important work at hand.
"I would also like to announce that Celine Fitzgerald has agreed to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer for the new agency. This will be a temporary appointment, pending the recruitment of a new CEO on a permanent basis. Ms Fitzgerald has an outstanding track record of leadership in both the public and private sectors, and I am confident that she is ideally equipped to lead Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland into its first months in operation."
The Research and Innovation Act 2024 was enacted in June 2024, and outlines the objectives and functions of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland. The new agency will work under the aegis of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in close collaboration with the Higher Education Authority, as well as Enterprise Ireland and the Industrial Development Agency and other research funding agencies.
The legislation places research in all disciplines on a statutory footing for the first time. The establishment of the agency will develop national capacity to respond to grand challenges, such as the green and digital transitions, using integrated approaches from scientific, behavioural, economic, and cultural perspectives.
Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland will promote and support the contribution of research and innovation to Ireland’s economic, social, cultural, and environmental development and sustainability, as well as strengthen the engagement between the research and innovation system and enterprise, Government and public bodies, the voluntary sector and society.
The establishment of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland as the new research and innovation funding agency is set against an ambitious programme of reform in the tertiary sector.
This comprises the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science itself, including the development of a unified tertiary system, its remit for the national research and innovation system and other key policy developments.
An ongoing programme of stakeholder consultation has been taking place since the development of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy, and has been integral to the development of the Act and planning for the new agency.
The objectives of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland are:
(a) to promote the attainment and maintenance of excellence in the standard and quality of research and innovation undertaken;
(b) 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;
(c) to promote and support the contribution made by research and innovation to economic, social, cultural and environmental development and sustainability in the State;
(d) to strengthen the engagement of the research and innovation system with:
(i) the Government, Ministers of the Government and bodies (whether statutory or otherwise) which are funded wholly or partly by public moneys, and
(ii) enterprise, non-governmental organisations, cultural institutions and society generally;
(e) to promote and develop the reputation of the State internationally as a location that is favourable for undertaking research and innovation;
(f) 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.
Michael Horgan
Michael Horgan is an experienced CEO and Board Chairperson. He was appointed Chair of the HEA in July 2016 for a five year term, was formerly chairman of the Health and Safety Authority (2010-2016) and was Chief Executive of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He is a Chartered Director, holds a BSc in Computer Science, an MA from the University of Dublin (Trinity College) and a Masters in Industrial Engineering from UCD.
He has been Chairman and non-executive director of InterPay, trading as TransferMate Global Payments, since its foundation in 2010. TransferMate is a regulated (Central Bank of Ireland) fintech payments company based in Ireland but with offices throughout the world. Michael is also a non-executive Director of Mountain Productions Ltd. In July 2022 he joined and was elected Chair of Uversity, a charity established by Mr Dermot Desmond to fund mature students complete a university degree.
He is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Data Protection Commission and on the Advisory Board of Intuition Ltd (an eLearning and Knowledge Management company).
Celine Fitzgerald
Celine Fitzgerald is an experienced CEO and Board member. Her career experience includes roles which include multi-national, state, charity and SME sectors. As CEO, she led Goal Global, the National Screening Service and Rigney Dolphin through periods of significant organisational reform.
She has held roles as a non-executive independent Director at Permanent TSB Holdings, VHI Health and Wellbeing DAC and Erva. Celine is a Chartered Director, a Certified Bank Director and a graduate of Trinity College Dublin.
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