Professor Vincent Cunnane:

I thank the Deputy. I will say at the start that we hold with his analysis that the sector is heavily involved in the transformation of higher education as it has been down through the years, but this particular step change is significant in that transformation. We see ourselves as engines of innovation change and, as the Deputy rightly said, regional development, which is close to all our hearts and which we can articulate strongly.

In regard to STEM graduates, that sector is very well represented here today by Dr. Mulcahy and Professor Cusack. The issue of attracting young women into the STEM area is very much to the forefront of what we are trying to do. I will hand over to my colleagues to expand on that.