Maire Geoghegan-Quinn
Research, Innovation and Science
EN CV
Our rating:

Nobody would accuse Ms Geoghegan-Quinn of being a shrinking violet, and her powerful and forceful manner showed that she was not to be messed with and provided some dynamism, so far missing from the hearings. Of course she was going to pass, the MEP's wouldn't dare vote against her! She listed her priorities in research as the European Research Area, Addressing Grand Challenges and Developing Innovation & Research. She showed her approach early on, charging out of the starting gate, proclaiming - and she does proclaim - that "I am a politician, not a civil servant. I am into action. Am I going to to keep talking or deliver? The second of course." She supported innovation policy, saying that it affected all of society's challenges; energy efficiency, climate change, where she said that climate change "was one area where research has changed people's hearts and minds." She also raised the importance of continuing research into climate change and its economic implications, not least for agriculture.

She supported knowledge sharing but said there were many things that needed to be put in place, including reform of IP rights and the costs of patenting, which she said was 20 times the cost in the United States and maintaining the patent was 50 - 60 times more expensive. he said that we had come a long way with these two issues and pledged to work closely with Barnier, if he was accepted, and promised to break down the bottlenecks that were holding back an European patent. The research budget, she said, had to support large and small projects, some like ITER were a vital element of long term strategy, but one concern was to provide a climate that encourages researchers to join and stay in the system. She added that "we need to help and assist researchers to reach the targets in our plans." She claimed that research created jobs through innovation. she also proposed to use structural funds to build up capacity and infrastructure in smaller member states, to help build a unified research area.

Asked about the role of women in science she pointed out that things were getting better, but one problem was in women who left the industry, for raising children etc, find it hard to rejoin the profession. She saw education as part of the solution, to "get women interested in science, that's where the jobs are". She also indicated that she would talk with firms and organisations that had a good record on gender issues, to try to learn best practice, as she said, "good management includes gender management and to understand the needs of women in the working environment". She made it clear that she was against quotas, but would set targets that could be monitored and measured. However, one target she mentioned was to have women as 40% of expert groups. Another aim was to increase the involvement of SME's and she supportede making research calls more focused on "what SME's are interested in". She also committed herself to raising the involvement of SME's in the framework plan to 15%, describing the target as "crucial". Another idea, was to look into a task force to improve co-operation with the ECB and it's investment arm in relation with SME's.

As Barroso put research, innovation and science in the heart of the economic recovery strategy, she supported improving simplification, which she said she keeps coming back to and that "whatever we do, we need to do it quickly and to be seen as serious." Other suggestions was to make science "sexy" and she would like to see celebrity scientists. Financial support was also needed in greater amounts and she advocated raising spending in science research to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the EU, the same target as President Obama's for the United States. She also mentioned that the EU had been left behind because of previous lack of investment. She said that that Europe, working together as 27 member states, was the way forward to improve the union and individual member states research and innovation capacity, that would be a benefit to all. "We need to engage together", to find the way forward and the parliament was "my partner, my supporter" to achieve these aims.

She stressed that, coming from Ireland wasn't a problem with supporting nuclear power, "nuclear energy is no silver bullet. EU research is needed in nuclear energy, it remains a technology of choice. It is a carbon free technology and it should remain an option for those who want it."" But it wasn't the Commission's place to tell member states what mix of energy to use.

Of working with the Commission, she supported the team approach, but was realistic to say that "The Commission is a college, but one has to fight to ensure you get what you need and I will do that." She also announced her intention to chair a group of innovation Commissioners, to push policy and bring policy together and promised that this would be her responsibility and tightly focused, not a talking shop. "I won't be a mouse, but I will be collegial"", she pledged. "I guarantee you of my independence, of thinking. I have spent almost ten years as an independent member of a European institution and that we can work together to deliver what people want. As I get to know the policy, I would like to come to the parliament, not to wait to be invited, to discuss with you how we can work together to deliver policy."

It was an energetic performance, one that didn't flag from start to finish and she displayed knowledge of her brief and the passion and strength to argue for her portfolio. She left with the meeting's applause ringing in her ears.

Quotes
"I'm a do-er not a yes woman"