 For example, it was noted that the number of patents produced by the lab up to 2004 was very small, though the account did not reflect on how long processes of research development and patent application would normally take.Furthermore, independent assessments of the Laboratory's operation commissioned by MLE noted significant improvements in management and operations since mid-2003.It was also reported in (Smith 2005) that the Irish government would have provided further but limited funding, if the board had agreed to governance changes.