No prior warning of start-up hub closure

No prior warning was given to the Government by UCC and Cork Institute of Technology about their decision to withdraw funding and staffing from an award-winning start-up business hub in which the Naval Service was a joint partner.

Three Government ministers have confirmed their departments were not consulted by the colleges over the effective shutting down of the Irish Maritime and Energy Research Cluster in Ringaskiddy in March.

UCC and CIT decided to cease support for IMERC on foot of a highly critical and controversial report they had commissioned into its operations and governance in 2016.