The science advisory body that convinced the Government to pour billions of euro into research is to be disbanded.
The Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (ICSTI) could be wound up before the end of the year, allowing the creation of a completely new advisory body.
A full meeting of the council heard yesterday morning it was to be replaced by a new body, the decision coming via the Office of Science and Technology, which is within Tánaiste Ms Harney's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
"We have been told that the new body will be an advisory council like ICSTI," the council's chairman, Dr Edward Walsh, said yesterday evening. "We have had clarification that this transition will take place in an orderly fashion. We are very pleased."
Ironically, the decision to close ICSTI - the single most important and influential science policy body to advise government in the last two decades - comes as a direct result of the council's own recommendations.
ICSTI submitted a report to the Tánaiste in December 2002, recommending an "overarching framework" for science policy. It argued for a chief science adviser, a position filled since September 1st by Dr Barry McSweeney; a Cabinet committee and interdepartmental committee on science, which have now been established; and a new advisory body. This body will now replace ICSTI.
"Inevitably the role of the advisory council would be different," Dr Walsh said. "It is entirely logical that there will be new terms of reference and new membership for the advisory council which will be put in place.
"We are greatly pleased that so many of our recommendations from ourreport have been put in place. We are delighted that science is now a Cabinet issue."
Dr Walsh was unsure when the new body would be established. "I would be pleased if it could happen before the end of the year," he said. Nor did he know whether existing ICSTI members might be placed on the new body, although he indicated his willingness to participate. "If they ask me to serve on it I will."
ICSTI was formed in 1997, just as the then government began formulating the National Development Plan. It carried out a technology foresight exercise, and recommended an unprecedented €2.54 billion spend on research.
ICSTI has had a tremendous influence both on science policy but also Government economic policy, based on developing a knowledge-based economy.
"Its peak was the work that ICSTI did in relation to technology foresight," said Dr Don Thornhill, chairman of the Higher Education Authority and ICSTI member. Its recommendation to establish a large fund for research was its "outstanding achievement".
"ICSTI has done a huge amount of work, and significantly influenced science policy here," said the chief executive of Forfás, Mr Martin Cronin.
"ICSTI is now in the past, but we wouldn't be where we are now without it," said Dr Conor O'Carroll, head of the research office at the Council of Heads of Irish Universities.
"It is a very important organisation, and has performed very successfully in the past."
A new body was now needed to oversee science, he added.