Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on Science Week and the importance of the sciences to our country and to humanity. I first qualified as a chemical engineer, seeking that course because of my love of the sciences and mathematics. That education gave me much understanding of our world. Interestingly, it is helping me to analyse our wastewater treatment and energy systems in my work as a TD and I am proud to be able to bring some insights to bear for my constituents.

I am conscious that people with a science education are in a minority in the House, which is not always a bad thing. However, I wonder whether our education system is broad enough to arm all of us with the crucial knowledge of the arts and sciences. I am concerned more generally about the lack of esteem for the sciences in 2025 in our country and in our world. We need more scientists, not fewer. We need more engineers, not fewer. We need more technologists and mathematicians, not fewer. Our economy depends on it, but more crucially, our environment and planet depend on it. Other countries, most notably Germany, the US, India and China, have invested heavily in scientific development and it has yielded significant economic and environmental benefits.

I am also extremely concerned that scepticism of science has crept into our public discourse and society. I have consistently heard from people in my constituency about such conspiracy theories as chemtrails and weather manipulation by world governments, anti-vaccine propaganda and climate change denial, a belief in things that are fantastical and defy all logic. Relatedly, a poor understanding of statistics leads many in the public discourse to poor conclusions and poor critical thinking. A core part of me wonders whether it is a lack of scientific understanding or education that has led us to this point where people can be so easily susceptible to the inaccurate and misleading.

Therefore, my major request is for the Minister of State to think sincerely about how our education and public information systems can address this lack of knowledge and understanding and how we can take the time and space to impart an appreciation of scientific thought to young and old like. Are we investing sufficiently in scientific curricula at earlier education levels? Crucially, are we catching older populations up? Are we arming our workforce with the skills they need for the climate action era? Are we building an economy and society that will thrive on scientific progress rather than eschew it?

I thank the Government for making time to discuss this important issue. There have been many positive developments recently, in particular with Ireland joining CERN last month, so I congratulate the Minister and everyone in his Department who worked on that in the hope that it represents a more considered effort to establish Ireland's position as a leading science nation. I affirm my strong support for the development of the sciences in the House.

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