Dr. Aisling Soden:

In terms of them being suitably qualified, all our clients are very happy with the level of quality that is coming out of the Irish education system. As for whether they would like there to be more graduates, they would as there is obviously no competition for talent. We very much encourage them to look at alternative pathways as well and to look at apprenticeships to access more of the talent pool than only the traditional routes. In terms of the suitability of the candidates who come through, however, they are very positive about that. They view them as very agile and very responsive candidates that come through. They are very highly-technically skilled but it is just that issue of the pipeline and ensuring that pipeline over the longer term. To do that - we have all touched on that - involves us ensuring that we encourage more children into STEM at an early age and have them progress through all of the various levels and move into those disciplines. We must also look for diversity within the talent pool to broaden it through alternative pathways, not only in the traditional degree route but in looking at apprenticeships, for example, the unified tertiary system, and at further and higher education linking up and developing programmes so that people can move through to their chosen career.