Ms Siobhan Finn:

I thank Senator Naughton for her questions. On the education of our young people, I advocate and support strongly what Mr. Mark Fielding has said around the integration of the teaching of entrepreneurship at a primary level. Some of our European counterparts are actually teaching entrepreneurship at preschool level. Rather than use the word "teaching", I would suggest "learning". First and foremost, it must be part of the curriculum so that time is allowed in the school and it is not considered an add-on where one has the luxury of a spare hour at the end of the day. It should be an integral part of the curriculum. Second, it must be done through the role models within the community. We are all very aware of the absolute necessity of having role models presented to our younger population so that boys and girls at school can understand what is achievable right across the spectrum. Those role models should be accessible from a very young age. Ms Mary Buckley has mentioned several of them through the IDA businesses. There are role models right across our community from small indigenous businesses to the multinationals. I suggest that there is a means of exploring how a more formalised, restructured system could be put in place to engage those role models right across the country within our educational system for the benefit of the student and to work with and support teachers on the integration of entrepreneurship.