Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is safe to say that in our current journey through a climate emergency and a world driven by artificial intelligence, AI, it is critical that we keep science and research at the forefront of our discussions here in the Oireachtas and in government. Science is not a distant concept confined to lab coats. It is the bedrock of understanding how global challenges impact on our everyday lives. It is our responsibility to ensure that investments in science and research remain strong. In celebrating Science Week, we are not just looking at a field of study. We are embracing a culture that values curiosity, innovation and evidence-based understanding. I encourage everyone to participate in this week. There is absolutely loads of activities happening around the country. There is a really good reason the European innovation scoreboard ranked Ireland as a strong innovator.

Our commitment to science must and, indeed, does extend beyond this week. It is essential to diversify both the profession and the teaching of science. We cannot be what we cannot see. Women's contribution to science is invaluable yet often it is under-represented and underacknowledged. By encouraging more women and girls to pursue careers in STEM, we are not just advocating for gender equality; we are ensuring diverse perspectives essential for innovation. Some 57% of girls lack confidence in their ability to pursue a STEM career while 66% of girls see lack of information about STEM careers as a barrier to pursuing a career in STEM. Some 84% of girls want to know more about STEM and 93% reject the stereotype that STEM careers are more suited to boys than girls. That is so encouraging, especially for young people and children growing up in Ireland right now.

Locally it is great to see Ballyowen Castle community centre playing a vital role in nurturing young minds through the Brickx club which enhances children's analytical abilities. Coder Dojo recently held workshops in Lucan library. KidsComp Ireland, which offers in-person classes in Lucan, is this month expanding to new centres in Adamstown and Tallaght. That is really progressive and an important step towards introducing more children to the world of coding. It shows there is demand for that among kids and their parents to learn more about coding. I would also like to take a moment to praise the students from Lucan Community College and Adamstown Community College who qualified in this year's BT Young Scientist and Technology exhibition. In Adamstown Community College we had a runner-up in this prestigious nationwide competition and the whole community is so proud of him. I also love attending the ESB Science Blast for primary schoolchildren. I attended this year's event, which was the first in-person event since Covid.

They had been doing it online. At the BT Young Scientist and Technology exhibition and the ESB Science Blast events there is always such a great sense of excitement and passion. I love getting to talk to students from Lucan, Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Newcastle, Saggart, Rathcoole and Citywest because they are so excited about being able to showcase the work they do. I take this opportunity to wish all students participating in the upcoming competitions the very best of luck. We really do need to invest in schools' abilities to access these programmes. That is particularly the case when it comes to schools in DEIS areas.

With the local elections just around the corner, it must be pointed out in our fast-moving and tech-driven world, the challenge of misinformation and disinformation really looms large. Understanding how to identify credible information is more critical than ever. We need to educate our communities about these challenges. I welcome the commitment from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, to create a new research and innovation funding agency. I also welcome the part he played in merging the Irish Research Council with Science Foundation Ireland.

Deputy Denis Naughten is in the Chamber. He calls for this debate annually, and I thank him for that. It is critical for us as a Parliament to have this debate but it is also critical to highlight the importance that scientific research and the use of evidence-based policy has for the Government and for all our day-to-day lives. As we navigate these changing and challenging times, let us remember that our commitment to science and technology is not just for a week or a year; it is a lifelong journey that will shape our future and that of our children.

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