Mitchell Scholarship programme must continue – Taoiseach

The George Mitchell Scholarship programme must continue, Taoiseach Simon Harris has insisted.

Speaking in Washington DC, Mr Harris said there would not be an issue over resourcing the programme, which sends American post-graduate students to study in Irish universities.

However, the Taoiseach said there are discussions about “how that appropriately happens”.

Set up 25 years ago to commemorate the contribution of former senator George Mitchell and the US government to the Good Friday Agreement, almost 300 students have graduated from the scheme.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the programme was suspending its selection of future classes to reassess its long-term funding situation.

At the time, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government was carrying out a general review of all international scholarships that Ireland funds or co-funds.

Mr Harris was asked about the programme by a student during a visit to Georgetown University.

He said: “We’re 100% committed to the continuation of the Mitchell Scholarships.”

“There’s various discussions about how that appropriately happens,

“But to be very clear, and Senator Mitchell knows this, the Mitchell Scholarships must continue, they’ve been extraordinary successful.”

Mr Harris said he believed the Government could do more from a “scalability point of view” with scholarships and exchanges.

He added: “I think it’s really good for young citizens in my country, and indeed, in this country, I think it is a good thing to do for our young people.

“I think it’s a really important piece for that affinity diaspora to make sure our people continue to know each other, understand each other, share cultures and values.

” I think it makes sense to get the best and the brightest working and some of the big challenges we face.

“And no matter how big a country you are, a smaller country, you are in collaboration when it comes to things like climate, when it comes to things like health, innovation are really important.”

Mr Harris drew attention to joint research being carried out between the University of California and Trinity College Dublin on treatment for dementia.

He said: “As a Government we intend to do a lot more.

“We’ve outlined in a new Government publication that we intend to locate in key areas across the world, attaches to work specifically on education, research, talent.

“And I’m delighted to confirm that at least one of those attaches will be here in the United States, hopefully two, but at least one with the first one being based on the west coast.”

Speaking to the media later, Mr Harris stressed that “active conversations” are ongoing about the scholarship programme.

He added: “This won’t be an issue of resourcing, I have spoken directly to Senator Mitchell about it as recently as last week in Dublin.

“We do want to get this model right.

“We are not doing nearly enough on student mobility and I think we can do something a lot bigger.”