Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)

In a world being reshaped by technology, climate change and shifting geopolitics, one truth remains constant: knowledge drives prosperity. In this rapidly changing landscape, higher education, research and skills are not luxuries. They are economic necessities. Ireland's competitive edge will not come from natural resources or low costs; it will come from talent and from the people we educate, the research we fund and the skills we foster. Every lecture hall, every lab and every apprenticeship is an investment in the future of our economy.

Research and innovation do not happen in silos. They fuel growth across every sector, from artificial intelligence to agriculture, and from clean technology to healthcare. When we support researchers, we are not just funding ideas; we are building industries. Countries that increase research and development spending consistently see long-term gains in GDP, productivity and global competitiveness.

Skills are just as vital. As industries evolve, so must our workforce. That means investing in further education, digital upskilling and lifelong learning. A flexible, skilled population is what allows a small nation to compete on a global stage. Higher education is the foundation. It attracts international talent, creates partnerships with industry and helps anchor high-value jobs here at home.

In this uncertain global climate, Ireland must be bold. The most resilient economies will be those that invest in people, knowledge and innovation. That is how we future-proof our prosperity, not by looking inward, but by committing fully to education, research and skills. We should not treat these as optional extras. They are our economic engine and in a changing world, our economic competitive advantage. Research is key. Collaboration between universities and industry must be fostered, driven and funded. PhD programmes are the fulcrum of such collaboration. A quiet but important transformation is already under way. Census 2022 showed that more than 38,000 people in Ireland held a doctorate degree, up 33% since 2016. In 2023, PhD enrolments increased by 5% compared to the previous academic year, and by 26% since 2016.

These numbers tell a story of progress but they also hint at an untapped opportunity. We need to build a culture in Ireland that sees the pursuit of research and development and a PhD as a vital path for individuals and our national economy. Today's PhD graduates are fuelling Ireland's burgeoning innovation ecosystem. They are solving real-world problems in industry, public policy, climate and health. They are building our country's future. They are exactly the kind of minds we need to compete globally.

In a world rocked by geopolitical uncertainty and economic upheaval, with US tariffs looming and the US retreat from international scientific leadership, Ireland stands at a crossroads.

As the United States turns inwards, we have the opportunity to turn outwards and upwards to become a global hub for ideas, innovation and research. This is why I welcome the announcement today by the Minister, Deputy Lawless, of the new global talent initiative. Academic researchers are increasingly bringing their skills to the heart of industry, working in the research and development departments of leading companies to drive innovation, product development and long-term strategic thinking. In fact, more than half of all full-time researchers in the EU now work in industry. Companies understand the value of this work. Take Apple, which spends more in research and development in a year than the entire UK Government. This is not a coincidence. It is recognition that investing in knowledge, creativity and experimentation pays dividends in future products, competitiveness and growth. The data backs this up. OECD research shows that a 1% increase in research and development investment is linked to a 0.13% rise in economic growth. That is a powerful return on investment.

We are entering a more fragmented global economy, with rising protectionism, trade tensions and tariffs. History shows these types of measures often lead to a decline in international competition. When competition drops so too does the incentive to innovate. This is the danger for Ireland. A fall in global competition could trigger a slowdown in research and development investment at home. We cannot let this happen. At a time when other economies may be turning inwards, Ireland must go in the opposite direction by doubling down on investment, knowledge, research and people.

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