Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)

I am sharing time with Deputy McGettigan. This a good day and a positive day. It has been a while coming and I know the Minister will agree with that, but it is welcome. There is significant opportunity with it for Irish scientists. There is an opportunity to collaborate, connect and lead of their own volition. That is there now and that is to be welcomed. I encourage the Minister to ensure that the environment is there to harness that opportunity. Thanks to their mother, my kids at the weekend were out at UCD Festival's Be Inspired event, which again is encouraging kids in Ireland from a young age to be scientifically aware and engage.

My next points are tangentially related but also relate specifically to scientific endeavour in Ireland. Yesterday, at the artificial intelligence, AI, committee, there was mention of a CERN for AI and the idea that this would not all be led by the private sector or big tech but would have collaborative public involvement. That is maybe something the Minister could take away and try to make some progress on.

The second point, which I have made previously to the Minister, relates to leaving certificate reform. What I am hearing clearly from the Irish Science Teachers Association, ISTA, is its concerns with the proposals as they are. I am a science graduate. I was in the small enough group that do three science subjects for the leaving certificate, although that was a long time ago. I am hearing from science teachers that they are concerned that the current approach to accelerated leaving certificate reform will undermine our scientific programmes and people completing the leaving certificate and moving on to third level education. I ask the Minister to please take an interest in that. It is all very much connected.

Generally speaking on this issue, this is a positive day and I hope we make significant progress.

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