Minister Harris hosts series of St Patrick’s Day engagements with business and science companies

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris will this week host a series of meetings with international companies to mark St Patrick’s Day.

Today (Monday), Minister Harris will be hosting virtual meetings with IDA clients in Europe, before a number of online engagements with Science Foundation Ireland in the US.

Speaking today, Minister Harris said:

"COVID-19 has disrupted the normal traditions of St Patrick’s Day. However, it still offers Government the opportunity to market Ireland abroad. This week, I will be hosting a number of engagements with science and business community across Europe and the US.

"When this pandemic passes, and it will, we must ensure Ireland will be a leading location of choice in what is an increasingly competitive global market for overseas investment. It is the role of this department to ensure Ireland has the right skills and talent to attract foreign direct investment, and that our science and research system remains a key driver of innovation in our economy."

On Monday, Minister Harris will host meetings with IDA clients in Europe. IDA client companies are responsible for over 250,000 jobs directly; expenditure in the Irish economy of over €25bn and 67% of all exports from Ireland.

Minister Harris and SFI will also meet with the Director of the USA’s National Science Foundation. This meeting will give Minister Harris a chance to discuss the importance of transatlantic collaboration and international relationships, and the vision for future research in Ireland under the leadership of the new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Minister Harris will also have the chance to reflect the Irish Government’s commitment to the US/Ireland research relationship. Minister Harris will also thank the National Science Foundation USA for their continuing partnership with SFI.