Dr. Deirdre Giblin:

It is the close relationship with the higher education industry. In Ireland we are doing a good job. We could do a lot better. As an educator, I am heartened by the fact we have a Department dedicated to further and higher education, research, innovation and science. We look a lot to Canada. For many years, we looked to the Nordic countries for many things but we look to Canada more often. I met the Minister, Deputy Harris, in the US in the week of St. Patrick's Day. He had been in Canada that week and was impressed by some of the visits he made to universities and employers and the integration of research and innovation between them.