Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with many of the concerns expressed by Senator Mullen. We should have positive relationships, educationally, with China but we need to have ethical considerations.

This discussion is on the future of the technological sector and, unsurprisingly, I will start by raising an issue of regional focus and move on to the broader issue. I welcome the commitment made by Minister of State, Deputy Collins, and referenced in the opening statements by the Minister and the Minister of State, on the broad ambition for a university for the south east, which the Minister, Deputy Harris, might outline. He spoke about prioritised capital investment, but what we do not want to see in the south east is simply a name change. When we consider a multi-campus university with campuses in Waterford, Carlow and Wexford, it is crucial there would also be significant investments to allow the technological universities to be able to complete not only internationally but nationally. I am conscious the Minister was on South East Radio recently confirming commitments to the Wexford campus. If there is any update on that, I would be grateful if he would share that.

More generally on the role of the technological sector, and I am conscious a strategy statement from the Minister's Department is due quite soon, this sector will play a key role in how we deal with technology and the rapid pace of change of technology over the next decade. We will need to be constantly upskilling and reskilling all our citizens. That will require a clear commitment on capital investment in the sector but also on research capacity. Having dealt with issues related to the south east, I would like the Minister to comment on the overall sector with respect to both capital investment and research capacity.