Notwithstanding the fact that there has been a substantial increase in spending on research and development, how does the Minister reconcile it with the fact that the Government would seem to be cutting back on all research and development done by public bodies, judging by the Book of Estimates? The Minister stated we are still sadly lacking in the amount of funds for research and development in comparison with the United States and the newly industrialised nations of East Asia. What specific plans have the Government to encourage and increase spending on research and development in both the public and private sectors?

I would agree that there is a very low degree of investment in industrial research and development in this country in comparison with other OECD countries. Irish business sector expenditure on research and development as a percentage of the domestic product of industry was 0.47 per cent, compared with 0.98 per cent in Denmark, 1.39 per cent in the Netherlands, 1.58 per cent in France and 1.93 per cent in the United Kingdom. Obviously there is a big job to be tackled.

What does the Minister intend to do?

First of all the Government in acknowledging the importance of science and technology decided——

To give the Minister the job.

I can assure the Deputy that on a recent promotion tour on which I embarked in place of the Minister for Industry and Commerce in the technologically sophisticated area of the west coast of America, there was enormous interest in Ireland as a place for investment, in starting up new companies as an avenue to Europe and in investing in research and development here. They see that this Government are committed to science and technology, research and development.