Sourcing of science advice

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science invites you to provide submissions on the sourcing of science advice.

The goal of this consultation is to get insights on what the sourcing of science advice might look like in the future, from interested stakeholders and the wider public.

The information you provide will inform decision making on the sourcing of science advice.

The department will also take advice from the European Commission, the OECD and other international experts, where necessary.

To make a submission:

• read the consultation paper
• read and answer the questions
• email or post your answers using the details provided

Consultation paper

Questions

Question 1

How should science advice fit into the overall policy process, including the broad reform agenda (such as the generation of evidence for policy, and strengthening policy development and foresight in the public service)?

Question 2

What examples and experience do you have where advice has been effectively sourced and applied?

Question 3

What examples and experience do you have where advice could be more effectively sourced and applied?

Question 4

How could any existing sources be better mobilised?

Question 5

What kind of individual skills and competencies do science advisors, scientists, and government officials need to develop to effectively populate or engage with science advisory structures?

Question 6

How can we make sure that citizen involvement, public trust and experience-based knowledge is included in any science advisory structure?

Question 7

How can the Irish system be better-connected to EU and EU-27 science advice processes?

Contact details

Please email or post your answers to the questions below to:

Closing date

The closing date for submissions is 5pm on 30 September 2022. We cannot consider submissions received after this time.

Several sources or models of science advice have evolved across different government departments. Departments have established strategic policy or research and evaluation units to strengthen the evidence base underpinning policy development. Though there may be differences in the structure and level of existing activity, several of these units have successfully created a strong research presence and established links to the research sector. These support the communication and integration of ongoing research and data analysis in the policy development process.

Researchers in the Oireachtas Library and Research Services can also give advice, offering Members of the Oireachtas access to expertise in:

• law
• social science
• economics
• political science
• environmental science

Also, the National Economic and Social Council advises the Taoiseach and Government on strategic policy issues about sustainable economic, social and environment development in Ireland.

The Civil Service Renewal 2030 Strategy has identified the need for improved policy development, coordination and investment in the strategic policy infrastructure across government, in order to deliver key strategic priorities.

This consultation offers an opportunity to explore wider views on how science advice could be sourced to:

• support cohesive and informed policy development across government
• ensure cross-sectoral synergies are identified and exploited to best effect

Data protection

Any personal information that you volunteer to this Department, will be treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality, strictly in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 is a regulation on data protection and privacy for all individuals in the European Union. It came into force across the European Union on 25 May 2018. It replaces the previous data-protection directive, which had been in force since 1995 and forms the basis of our new Irish data-protection laws (Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018).

Freedom of information

However, please note that the information provided in the submission form may be shared with relevant Government Departments and state organisations during the review process.

It is intended that all submissions received will be made available under the Freedom of Information Acts and as such may be published on the Department's website following the publication of the Strategy.