James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted to be here to open this debate to mark Science Week 2025. As Minister for science - in fact, I have a long title and science is a key part of it - it is so important we mark this event and occasion. The Irish physicist John Tyndall once observed, “Knowledge once gained casts a light beyond its own immediate boundaries.” Ireland’s future lies in its people. Through supporting our innate curiosity and by encouraging our latent talent, Ireland can play a leading role in addressing key challenges and drive competitiveness into the future. As a small, open economy without obvious natural reserves of oil or gas, our natural resource is knowledge and our competitive edge is talent and our people.

When science moves, everything around it moves also. This is what we sometimes call the "halo effect". A breakthrough in material science leads to warmer homes and lower bills. An artificial intelligence model becomes a faster way to diagnose and treat cancer. A new bioprocess becomes a new regional employer. For everything there is a catalyst and then there is a reaction, and often there is a chain reaction leading on to the applications and impact of the research and the science, as well as the science itself.

One story captured this very well. During my recent visit to the Tyndall National Institute in Cork, in the middle of a discussion on microneedles, quantum materials and future technologies, the team there mentioned a graduate of whom they are very proud, Dr. Ann Kelleher, who began her journey in UCC and went on to lead the technology development at Intel, becoming a vice president globally of Intel's technology chain. Her success continues to ripple around Ireland because every time a global company looks at our research capability, every time a young student in Cork imagines a career in science and every time a team at the Tyndall National Institute secures a new partnership, Dr. Kelleher's achievements, and those of so many more like her, are part of the reason and part of the inspiration - if you can see it, you can be it. It is also a great beacon for Ireland in those international boardrooms. That halo effect of one person's education nurtured here went on to create opportunity far beyond themselves. During Science Week 2025, when we celebrate curiosity, talent and possibility it is a reminder that the next Dr. Ann Kelleher may already be sitting in a classroom, visiting a Science Week event or engaging with scientists for the first time. Last night, I had the opportunity to visit the Posters in Parliament exhibition in Leinster House 2000. This involves a team of young undergraduate researchers showcasing their work in an exhibition in Leinster House, one of five parliaments around Europe that will give that opportunity to young researchers. All of those young students are the scientists, groundbreaking engineers and rising stars of the future.

It is through that investment and activity in research and innovation that we will deliver a step change in areas such as environment, technology and healthcare. Fundamental blue sky research can provide new answers to questions we have not thought of yet and drive paradigm shifts like those we see in AI and quantum. I am told that quantum computers will be able to perform calculations in seconds that currently take up to a year on a regular computer. Frontier discoveries sometimes seem abstract but they are what gives us vaccines, clean energy and digital tools. Many of the key technologies and innovations of modern life came about by accidental discovery. They were not the outcome of the initial experiments; they were something that was found along the way but which became a seismic shift in the relevant field.

As the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, I am conscious of my role in not only delivering a robust research and innovation system today but also ensuring that we develop the talent and skills to create, nurture and maintain our world-class research system into the future. A critical element is ensuring that the public are aware of the broad range and value of current research activity and that science and technology are something all our citizens are comfortable engaging with, are aware of and are happy to discover more about. I am delighted, therefore, to have the opportunity to highlight the range of Science Week 2025 events taking place across the country to celebrate the vital role that science plays in our everyday lives. The theme - "Then. Today. Tomorrow." - encourages all of us to explore how scientific research has evolved over the years, assess the role science plays in our lives today and look to the future to consider how science might shape tomorrow. From its origins as a small series of outreach events launched by the Royal Dublin Society in 1995, the initiative has grown to become a truly interactive and countrywide calendar showcasing the marvels of science. Now co-ordinated by Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland, Science Week has become a key event across Ireland connecting young and old with science through a broad range of opportunities and events. I am delighted that my Department has continued its support for this year's programme, with over €847,000 in funding provided for 36 projects through Research Ireland. During the week, almost 400 events, involving 200,000 participants, will be hosted in schools, libraries, theatres, town halls, community centres, markets, homes and other venues nationwide. Somewhere, maybe in many places, in those 400 events are our future clinicians, climate scientists, engineers, farmers and entrepreneurs. These are the people who will write the next chapter of Ireland's story. I am looking forward to attending a few of the events. Later this afternoon, I will launch the Museum of the Moon festival at Merrion Square, which runs from this evening until Saturday. This features a 7 m illuminated moon sculpture mapped using NASA imagery and offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to experience the moon up close, complemented by musical performances.

I thank Members of the House for the support shown for Science Week. I very much want to reach out to colleagues in the Chamber and beyond because there is very strong collaborative cross-party support for Science Week and the initiatives that flow from it, as well as for science, research and innovation as a policy more broadly, in the course of our mutual work here in the Oireachtas and through the engagements Members have in their constituencies and communities, and policy initiatives more generally. Scientific research has an enormous influence on almost every aspect of our lives, from healthcare, technology, transport, agriculture, food and climate to education, sport, well-being, entertainment and so much else. Ireland is very much leading, having a long-established Science Week that has co-ordinated nationally and is delivered and hosted regionally. We were one of the first countries to see the importance of promoting science nationally in this way and have created opportunities for education and public engagement with science and research. This builds on the success of the recently hosted maths week only a few weeks ago. Weeks like this, and these outreach events, are so important to reach out to the next generation of researchers, academics and students and showcase what is possible, as well as bringing to bear with a wider audience some of the applications of science in everyday life.

Our international standing as a nation that greatly values science is reflected in landmark achievements. Last month, on 22 October, Ireland officially joined the European Organization for Nuclear Research, better known as CERN. We are now an associate member state and we are taking our place among the nations of the world. In so doing, we have entered one of the world's most prestigious scientific collaborations, opening the door for academia and enterprise to rise to the next level in terms of scientific innovation. Ireland joining CERN had long been an outstanding ambition of mine. When I was in opposition I advocated for Ireland's associate membership of CERN. Previously, as a student and long before I was a Minister, I visited CERN on a couple of occasions and I was shocked at how Irish students at that time had to effectively go in the back door. Ireland did not have access and students could not participate. Irish companies could not tender. That is all now addressed through our membership and Irish people can proudly walk in the front door and be very much part of the team, collaborating and benefiting from all that this bestows upon us. CERN membership means opportunities for Irish firms to win contracts, for students to gain experience at the frontier of physics and for our regions to benefit from skills and the know-how that flow back.

Of course, CERN is about leading-edge particle physics but it is also about so much else. It is about data science, data storage, reflectors, electromagnetism and engineering, even to the extent of tunnelling and creating every new round of the Large Hadron Collider. For example, we see new partnerships emerging. I was at Munster Technological University last week, at the Tralee campus. I spoke with some of the team of engineers who are working at CERN on the ATLAS experiment. They are working on technical challenges in terms of the power supply and supporting of the CERN detectors that actually pick up the collisions inside the Large Hadron Collider.

Primary school students around the country this week are taking part in an instruction on data science as part of the physics run by CERN and hosted by the Microsoft Dream Space. This kind of pioneering advancement can only happen when backed by significant Government support, as reflected and called out in the programme for Government which I am now implementing. This makes significant commitments in support of research and innovation. I am pleased to tell the House I have secured funding to enable us to deliver on these commitments through transformative investment under the national development plan in research, education and innovation, all of which will secure long-term returns for Irish society and our economy. A strong economy powers a strong society because it creates the resources that we can use for the public good.

In a watershed moment, and in keeping with the theme of "Then. Today. Tomorrow." when we look back at the initiatives and moments that have the power to change the landscape of research and science, over half of my Department's €4.5 billion national development plan capital budget will now be earmarked for research and innovation initiatives. This allocation recognises my Department for what it is, namely, an economic Ministry with levers that shape productivity, resilience and long-term growth across the whole wider economy and society, and my prioritisation of research and innovation as a key enabler for economic and social progress.

The recently published action plan for competitiveness and productivity also places front and centre the centrality of research and innovation to Ireland's future economic performance. This theme was also writ large in the Draghi report and the Letta response, which we saw across the European Union. To be competitive, we must excel at science and invest in research. This outcome and prioritisation within the national development plan and within my budget are a recognition of the need to invest in that national research and innovation system as an engine of our knowledge economy. This planned investment in research infrastructure is both critical and timely because we want to continue to maintain our international reputation for research excellence and for fostering exceptional research talents. We need to modernise the equipment the students and researchers are using and bring it into the 21st century and beyond. Working off old equipment limits discoveries and also the student, teaching and learning experience. Renewing it ensures that every graduate is being trained on the tools of tomorrow and not yesterday.

Research infrastructure is light on concrete but heavy on capacity creation. It creates opportunity without overheating or placing undue demands on the construction sector, and it compounds in value through ideas, skills and innovation.

It can be quickly ramped up, it can deliver at scale and it does not have the complex process that surround physical infrastructure. In addition, the budget announcement of an increase in the research and development tax credit from 30% to 35% demonstrates our commitment to industry in terms of partnering research sector collaborations in academia and enterprise.

One of my hopes for initiatives such as Science Week is that they will help young people to discover a love of science, technology, engineering and maths, STEM, and ultimately develop careers in the STEM field, perhaps even going on to be researchers. Putting the arts into STEM to get STEAM is equally important, as we teach people how to think and assess a set of facts, and how to apply a lens, whether through history, economics, literature, languages or the core STEM subjects.

Research talent is a priority for the Government. It is essential that we build on our research capacity, developing and extending our talent base, and increase the level of research and development being undertaken to support it. The Department, working through Research Ireland, supports the development of excellence in research talent through all phases of the research and innovation pipeline, from early career, frontier and blue skies research to programmes of scale, such as its research centres which foster large-scale collaborations across academia and industry. Between 2020 and 2024, over 2,500 PhD students were funded through Research Ireland through a suite of structured PhD and post doctorate programmes that provide a pipeline of highly skilled researchers for careers in academia and industry.

It is also important to look further afield and welcome top tier international research talent to Ireland. Doing so expands our research talent base and allows the cross-pollination and fertilisation of ideas, with new thoughts from outside our normal circles. We are now inviting these talented individuals here, many of whom are uncertain of where to turn next with changing global events and different priorities for science in other jurisdictions. Ireland offers stability, opportunity, excellence and a warm welcome to researchers on the move. We also offer a gateway to the European Union.

In that vein, I recently launched the Global Talent Ireland programme, which represents a critical initiative in the current global environment to attract outstanding international researchers to Irish higher education institutions and to join public research bodies. There has been a remarkable response to this call, which clearly demonstrates the timeliness of the initiative and our position as a beacon to attract world-class research talent. We stand ready to welcome these researchers who aspire to make a meaningful impact, economically and societally, in their fields and disciplines, while advancing their careers here in Ireland. By investing in global research talent, we are also strengthening Ireland's own position as a hub at the heart of Europe for research excellence, innovation and opportunity.

We have international engagement across Europe and we are strengthening Ireland's position as a hub of European research excellence by maximising opportunities for researchers to collaborate on key emerging technologies. I am ambitious for Ireland to be a change maker and not a change taker, and to be a maker and shaper of new technologies. In June, I signed Ireland up to the European quantum pact, which allows Irish scientists and researchers to engage with their EU counterparts in the field of quantum, building on our own expertise in this area. Quantum technologies represent an important part of Ireland's aspirations in the field of deep tech, owing to their vast potential to impact critical strategic domains, including semiconductors, life sciences, sustainable energy, financial services, cybersecurity, climate modelling and much more.

Another development which gives local researchers access to state-of-the art European and international resources is the recent successful AI Factory Antenna bid, led by the ICHEC team and the University of Galway. I had the pleasure of visiting them on Monday morning and I was impressed by their excellence and commitment to leading class research using high-performance computing and supercomputers. They are particularly enthused that joining the European quantum pact and the EuroHPC agreement allows them to collaborate and pitch for ideas. For a team that was not even participating in the initiative until a few months ago, I am proud to report to the House that it came second out of 14 in the bid it put in, based on excellent science. Well done to ICHEC and the University of Galway. These breakthroughs open doors for researchers, developers, public bodies and institutions across Ireland. They provide access to cutting-edge infrastructure, expert support and European AI networks. From climate to health to transport to advanced manufacturing, this will accelerate innovation across every corner of our economy and society.

Al is recognised as a key priority for the Government, and my Department provides support in the development of a national digital and artificial intelligence strategy, working with the Minister, Deputy Burke, and the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, who have a specialist focus on the area. How artificial intelligence integrates into our lives is of concern to all of us, as it increasingly impacts how we do business, how we work and how we interact with other people. It has great potential to enhance our lives and transform the way we live and work by creating efficiencies and helping us find solutions to some of our greatest challenges.

The power of technology can be used to bring knowledge together in many new ways. There is a real prospect of accelerated scientific discovery. We can run the same experiments faster and more repeatedly and capture the vast data flowing from them to make real breakthroughs in many fields. It is already happening, in fact, and my role is to ensure that Ireland is at the table and playing a significant part of it, and ensuring the skills and research ecosystems are up to speed and leading edge so our researchers and academics can play a major role. There are also huge opportunities commercially for companies in Ireland to develop AI capability but they need the talent to work with it. We provide a broad range of skilling, upskilling and reskilling initiatives, including through the funding of PhDs in disciplines involving digital technologies and their application.

We know also that AI must be developed in an appropriate regulation, with policy that allows for innovation but prioritises the safety of its users and ensures that biases are mitigated from the outset. We must challenge the limitations of data sets, the AI slop we talk about and the model becoming perpetuating, and ensure quality responses and outputs from large language models. The ongoing need for cutting-edge research in this rapidly evolving area is now impacting on almost every area in its work.

Research Ireland is also a key lever in enabling our AI technological progress, providing the talent, skills and career paths into high potential sectors engaging with AI, particularly in the pharma, medtech and data science areas. AI has boundless possibilities, which are only beginning to be understood, and I am intrigued to see how this subject is going to be explored during Science Week. Research Ireland centres have had a huge impact on innovation and economic development, linking researchers in partnerships across academia and industry in areas of strategic focus. I will be announcing the launch of the new programme of globally competitive research centres in early 2026. These research centres will drive research and innovation in areas of national strategic importance, building connectivity with industry and supporting regional development, while providing PhD training aligned with future skills needs and enhancing our chances of success when competing for European funding. Critically, they will drive academic collaboration with industry and others to maximise knowledge transfer from our higher education institutions to the wider economy and society.

These centres, alongside the accelerating research to commercialisation, ARC, hubs, give SMEs a front door into innovation so the benefits of science are felt throughout the country, in Athlone and Letterkenny as much as in Dublin and Cork. Another approach to driving innovation to market is through the ARC hubs that I mentioned. The ARC hub programme aims to transform cutting-edge, publicly funded research into market-ready applications and innovations, fostering regional development and boosting economic growth and activity. All of this work takes place in the context of the Impact 2030 strategy, which is bringing greater cohesiveness and effectiveness to our national research and innovation system, forging closer links between the Department, Research Ireland, the Higher Education Authority, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

We continue to forge closer links across the research and innovation ecosystem. As the Minister with the research and science portfolio, I was delighted to mark in September, along with Enterprise Ireland and other partners, the achievement of reaching the €1 billion milestone in funding drawn down through the Horizon framework. Irish agencies, business and players helped to take the framework to the next level and achieve a €1 billion drawdown in Horizon funding. This represents a significant national achievement and is a powerful endorsement of Ireland's capacity and our growing strength as an innovator on the European landscape. Reaching this milestone has been made possible through the collective efforts of our research community, our universities and enterprises, and the robust partnerships we have built across Europe. As we look ahead, we expect that the final work programme publication under Horizon Europe will be launched before the end of this year. This will open future opportunities for Ireland's researchers and innovators to build on this success and continue to shape Ireland’s scientific future.

In recent years, we have made enormous progress in developing a thriving research and innovation ecosystem and we will continue to build on this momentum. Over the coming years, I want to deliver on the promise of this sector, forging a more cohesive and collaborative system, boosting and modernising the infrastructure which enables it and maximising the capacity and impact of the system as an economic engine for growth to future proof it and make it more diverse, agile and capable of not just withstanding but of responding to and shaping the opportunities of a rapidly changing world. I commend Research Ireland on its leadership role in supporting and co-ordinating science week in a very visible and very inclusive way. I congratulate Dr. Diarmuid O'Brien, the new CEO who recently taken up office, on his leadership of the organisation.

Science week plays a key role in demystifying many of the complexities of science and bringing it to every town and community in Ireland. I thank all of the teams involved in science week for their valuable contributions, creativity and imagination and for instilling an appreciation of science, research and innovation, especially among our younger people. I would like every young person in Ireland to feel that science belongs to them in order that they can follow their dreams and realise their full potential. I thank the Business Committee of the House for scheduling the time to discuss science week today and its value in generating public discourse and raising awareness of the critical role of science in terms of our past, present and future.

We live in a time of rapidly accelerating change and of exciting new opportunities and breakthroughs in our understanding of the universe. As George Bernard Shaw put it, “We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.” That is a responsibility that all of us in this House hold dearly and that we are fulfilling through initiatives like science week and the research initiatives we have discussed. I want our young people, our up-and-coming research and innovation talent, to see this as a time for curiosity - curiosity is always a good thing - and a chance to write the next chapter of Ireland’s success story. STEM and science are for everyone, and science week is a fantastic opportunity to open the door for the next generation and let them see their own potential futures in the world of science and to unleash a new halo effect of ideas, skills and discoveries that will bring benefit to every community in this country.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Gone are the days when curiosity killed the cat.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome science week as an important moment for children at primary level, further and higher level students and our educators. This is a celebration of the achievements of science and the advances in rapid technological change. Science week promotes STEM and hands-on learning. It also inspires future scientists and creates curiosity in young minds, making science more accessible, and provides a platform to showcase how science can become a subject for young people to take up in their studies. I saw this first hand while visiting the Póstaeir san Oireachtas exhibit 2025.

This year's science week marks 30 years of collaboration to advance science in Ireland. Science week is a nationwide event with events involving industry, colleges, schools, libraries, teachers, researchers and students throughout Ireland. The theme then, today and tomorrow sparks a very important conversation about the future we want to build in this country.

The overlap between science and technology has really ramped up at an unprecedented rate with the development of AI. AI is becoming an essential part of scientific endeavour, and some of it is remarkable in its capabilities. It can analyse large and complex data that would be difficult for humans to spot. It can automate repetitive tasks in laboratories, such as liquid handling, incubation and imaging, making workflows more efficient and reliable, among many others.

We in Sinn Féin believe that science and technology must first and foremost be used in a responsible way and not be an opportunity to serve the interests of the few. While there may of course be benefits to AI, there is one that is really worth mentioning. AI companions like Hayley, as featured in a recent RTÉ news report, can really benefit those who are caring for loved ones at home. This new system involves AI and movement sensors, which could mean that future older populations may never have to enter nursing homes. While we celebrate AI advances of this nature, there is a need to ensure that AI language and systems are being taught at a high standard at third level. With the necessary equipment and infrastructure, future science researchers can effectively integrate these tools, ensuring that AI complements their area of expertise rather than replacing it. AI can be utilised as a working tool to enhance the effectiveness of laboratory work, assisting researchers to manage complex biological problems. There should be robust measures to ensure the technology is available for all students, not just the elite few.

Speaking broadly in terms of Ireland's economy, the knock-on effect of AI replacing workers is a very real and serious concern. Recent announcements that Amazon will lay off approximately 14,000 office workers globally, including staff in Ireland, largely due to increased investments in artificial intelligence means that at least 30 staff cuts in Ireland are planned. These layoffs are set to continue at a pace not seen previously. While AI technology continues to expand and evolve, there is a real concern that this can lead to very serious outcomes for third level graduates who face very insecure prospects due to the advancements of AI.

The Minister announced Government support for a major new initiative to boost Ireland's AI capacity by bidding to host a European AI factory antenna. Serious questions must be asked regarding his responsibility to be bidding for this when our graduates could struggle to find entry level employment because of these advancements. The long-term implications of overreliance on this technology, particularly for the future job security of our third level graduates, is a serious consideration. Irish start-ups and other businesses will fully benefit from the rapid development of AI innovation. What we must be aware of is that these technologies could in fact replace jobs in the various sectors.

From a climate perspective, we must also acknowledge there is a direct correlation between advancements in AI technology and its reliance on data centres that produce massive amounts of energy. Furthermore, this also means it will directly impact on Ireland's future housing supply, largely as a result of to the failure to invest in energy grid resilience. In 2015, data centres used 5% of Ireland's electricity. In 2023, they used 21%. It is well known that AI is a massive contributor to this usage. The rise in electricity use by data centres is outpacing new renewable electricity sources. This is concerning.

Additionally, the National Training Fund, which has a surplus of €1.8 billion that we are seeking to unlock, needs to be urgently invested. The outcome of this not happening is that some universities are posting financial deficits. Their infrastructure and research equipment also continues to fall into disrepair. Some institutes are using equipment that is not fit for purpose. Proper investment in science and research is needed in order that our future scientists can thrive and flourish because they are using state-of-the-art equipment that can propel their careers further. Ultimately, successive Governments have created funding deficits in the university sector that could threaten the viability of Irish universities.

I acknowledge that science week is an opportunity to bring together children, students, teachers and communities. However, we must hold the Government to account to ensure that jobs are protected, that our climate is protected and that AI does not become a threat but instead becomes an important tool to help, especially those who are most vulnerable in our society.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the guests in the Visitor's Gallery, namely Councillors Padraig Fallon and Brendan Barry and others. Ta fáilte rompu go Baile Átha Cliath. It is no Leitrim, but sure it will do.

I am delighted to speak about science week. It is really important that we put a focus on it and ensure that all of our young people have opportunities, if they wish, in the field of science. If we do that and if that is the focus of the Dáil, we need to look at how we can do it. One of the issues that was raised with me quite a bit when I was held the spokesperson role that Deputy McGettigan holds now was that of the basic instruments and infrastructure we have within our third level sector, neither of which is up to standard. Some of it is, but could soon not be. This has an impact on young people who are really talented in this area and who to build on their talents. The way they build on those talents a lot of the time is, unfortunately, that they emigrate and study at universities abroad. Of course, when you are studying, that can be part of it in order to bring that knowledge base back. If we want them to bring it back, however, we need to make sure our instruments and scientific infrastructure is up to scratch. I strongly believe that we need to ensure we actually have funding coming through for the third level sector in order to keep that at the base it is now and expand it. We have the talents, the people and the visions but we need to build on that.

Equally, if we are looking at our young people who may want to go into science, we need to look at the opportunities they have. One of the biggest issues is that many of our young people, including aspiring scientists, face an uphill battle when it comes to building a secure and good life in this State. Basic things their parents would have taken for granted are now difficult, sometimes impossible, to access.

Young people in final year of school may be thinking of what university to apply for. Unfortunately, many of them quickly realise that they do not have much, if any, choice in the matter. The outrageous cost and limited availability of student accommodation means they are forced to stay living with their parents and commute very long distances in order to access any type of third level course. That takes the decision-making out of it. That is a big issue.

We have student university accommodation that is low quality, insecure and extremely expensive. We are still waiting for the student accommodation strategy that was promised in 2024. When will that happen? We need to end the rip off for students. They need to have choice in this matter because they need to be able to study science if they so wish. That should be part of this conversation.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I commend Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, on the 30th anniversary of Science Week, along with parents, industry, colleges, schools, libraries, teachers and researchers but mostly the students. It is time to reflect on our own role as legislators on the theme of this year which is: "Then. Today. Tomorrow." We have produced world leaders and are home to domestic and multinational companies at the forefront in their fields of science. Our healthcare workers provide among the highest standards of care and we have more women in STEM fields than ever before. In some contexts, thinking from then to today, progress has been made. However, thinking of then, think also of when third level fees were abolished. Then they were reinstated and then increased this year. This is not very encouraging for our future scientists.

When I think of the science-led improvements to healthcare and the talent and commitment of our healthcare professionals today, I regret that people cannot access their care. I think of more than 800 children in my own county of Monaghan, none of whom were able to access their dental checkups this year. While welcoming the pending expansion of veterinary medical places, I think of the hundreds upon hundreds of students in recent years who have been forced to study abroad due to the lack of capacity while a crisis, particularly in rural areas, festered at home.

While acknowledging progress, I bear in mind that only one third of STEM students today are women, with only 25% in ICT. We have made progress but not enough. It is definitely not working. We have a backslide in some areas. We look to tomorrow. My appeal to the Government is that the goal will be a tomorrow that allows for ambitious planning for the future, beyond simply responding to the excessive amount of issues that plague our society today.

In regard to the national children's science museum, the concept of which I fully support, the approach from the Government seems foolish. More than 20 years ago it was envisaged that it would cost the taxpayer €14.3 million to build a national children's science museum. The estimated cost 12 years ago was €36.4 million but today that estimate has gone up to €70 million. The Government seems powerless and held to ransom by a charity. I will not prescribe the exact solution to what I appreciate has competing views from different stakeholders. However, I ask the Government to recognise the situation is farcical and take control of this board and the findings and recommendations from the Comptroller and Auditor General and ensure that in the future its officials are not left to defend what may seem an absolutely scandalous waste of money.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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Science Week is an important opportunity to highlight the value of research, innovation and STEM education throughout the State. It is also an opportunity to look very honestly at the structural failures in how Government supports science, third level education and regional development. For those of us in Waterford and the south east, these failures are not abstract. They are stark and lived realities. The potential of the South East Technological University, SETU, is extraordinary, yet Government decisions have placed it firmly at the bottom of the pile when it comes to funding for technological universities. Figures released by the Department show that since the establishment of the TUs Dublin has received almost €56 million in capital funding, the Atlantic TU, €52 million, Munster TU almost €47 million and the Technological University of the Shannon €41 million. In stark contrast, SETU has received just €27 million of funding. That is a full one third less than the next lowest university.

This pattern reflects a deeper problem. When choices are made the south east is routinely treated as an afterthought. Waterford and the wider south-east region is mid-table for student numbers among the technological universities, yet bottom of the list for investment by a considerable distance. The Government must explain how this is consistent with any credible strategy for balanced regional development or indeed any strategy for investment in innovation and science.

Science Week should also prompt a discussion about the chronic underfunding of higher education more generally. Colleges are operating with 38% less funding per student than in 2008. That reduction has had serious consequences for quality, for research capacity and for staff conditions. The Government has spent less on research and development as a share of modified GNI in every year since 2011, leaving us below the EU average and below its own stated targets. That trajectory undermines the future of innovation and economic development.

Yet, in Waterford, despite these constraints, remarkable work continues to happen. ArcLabs, the Walton Institute and other parts of SETU are driving cutting edge research in information and communication systems, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence. SETU has enormous potential to lead nationally in these fields but potential without investment will not deliver the step change our region needs.

We need a fair funding model for TUs, a fast-track capital programme for SETU and urgent progress on the promised pharmacy and veterinary medicine courses to support regional growth. The south east has waited long enough. The Government must finally deliver the resources and respect that our students, our regional economy, the researchers in these institutes and our communities deserve.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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I am pleased to speak on Science Week 2025, marking its 30th anniversary. This year's theme, "Then. Today. Tomorrow.", asks us to take an honest look at how far we have come, where we now stand and what choices we must make to secure a fair and sustainable future for our young people and for research in Ireland.

Science Week began three decades ago as a relatively modest outreach effort. Today, it is the biggest science festival in the State with thousands of events involving schools, universities, libraries, youth services and communities. It is testament to the passion and commitment of educators, researchers and volunteers across Ireland. Throughout the country, we see that energy every year with schools taking part in hands-on STEM workshops, university and research-led events by all universities and higher education institutes across the country. Youth projects throughout the country use Science Week materials to encourage coding, robotics and environmental science in ways that are accessible and fun. That is real inclusion in action.

However, it also highlights the key challenge before us. How do we ensure that children and young people in every community, not just the well-resourced ones, have equal access to science education, research pathways and the careers that flow from them? As the Labour Party spokesperson on education and youth, that question is central to my work. This is the first major Science Week under a new integrated agency, Research Ireland, formed from the merger of SFI and the Irish Research Council. It was meant to bring coherence, stability and fairness to the research system. Let us be frank and honest. A new logo and a merged board will not fix the deeper structural issues that students, PhD researchers, postdocs and academic staff are experiencing every day: chronic underfunding, precarious contracts, a lack of genuine career paths and widening inequality in access to research careers.

Ireland's research and development intensity still lags behind the EU average. Meanwhile, the Government has found room to increase the research and development tax credit for multinationals even though our publicly-funded research system remains stretched, reactive and overly dependent on short-term project grants. That imbalance tells a story. We are quick to subsidise big business but slow to invest in people, in public research, in our universities and in our young people.

If we are serious about being a knowledge-driven economy and a fair society, that must change.

Science Week rightly celebrates curiosity but curiosity needs opportunity. In too many schools, especially DEIS schools, science education is held back by inadequate laboratory facilities, outdated equipment and insufficient supports for inquiry-based, hands-on learning. The physical infrastructure of Irish science education is not fit for the demands we place on teachers and students. We saw that this year when science teachers across the country were asked to roll out leaving certificate reform without the adequate resources in place.

In my constituency of Cork North-Central, I have spoken to teachers who are doing heroic work in outdated laboratories or without a laboratory at all. They should not have to compensate for systemic neglect. The Labour Party believes every child should have access to a modern science laboratory regardless of their postcode. Every teacher should be supported with proper continuing professional development, CPD, resources and time to deliver inquiry-based STEM education. Every youth service should be able to offer meaningful engagement with digital skills, coding, climate science and robotics, not just sporadic workshops. Science Week shows what is possible but it must be a catalyst, not a once-a-year showcase.

The reality in our higher education system is stark. Many early year career researchers are on fixed-term, insecure contracts. PhD researchers are trying to survive on stipends that do not meet the cost of living, especially in major cities such as Cork, Dublin and Galway. Universities are being asked to do more with less while navigating financial instability. The gap between industry-led and public interest research continues to widen. If we want the next generation, including young people across the country, to pursue research careers, we must make research a stable, viable and respected profession. This means we need: a living stipend and proper worker status for PhD students and researchers; multi-annual, inflation-proof funding for Research Ireland; secure career pathways for post-doctoral researchers; dedicated investment in public good research on housing, health, education, youth well-being, social cohesion and climate justice; and funding streams that value the arts, humanities and the social sciences, recognising that real innovation requires the full spectrum of knowledge.

Science Week places inclusion at its core and it must stay there. Girls and young women remain under-represented in STEM pathways. Students with disabilities still face barriers to accessing laboratories, equipment and placements. Young people in deprived areas encounter fewer opportunities, role models and routes into higher education.

In my constituency of Cork North-Central, we know the difference that role models, community partnerships and sustained investment can make. However, we cannot rely on individual schools or local heroes to do all the heavy lifting. Inclusion must be designed into curriculum reform, funding decisions, research priorities, university access programmes and youth services. Ireland cannot afford to waste talent, and talent is found in every estate, classroom and youth centre regardless of where people live.

The theme of "Then. Today. Tomorrow." invites us to learn from the past - then, public investment delivered vaccination programmes, environmental protections, medical breakthroughs and digital infrastructure; today, research tells us clearly what must be done on climate, housing, health, youth mental health and educational inequality but Government too often chooses inaction; and tomorrow, we face rapid developments in AI, bio-engineering and automation. These are not abstract; they will reshape education, work, democracy and the lives of young people growing up in Ireland today.

Science Week should not only be about celebrating discovery. It must also be about democratic accountability. Evidence must guide policy, even when uncomfortable. Science Week gives us a glimpse of Ireland at its best: curious, ambitious, creative and collaborative. However, behind the celebrations lies a clear responsibility for this House and for us as policymakers. We must invest in children, teachers and youth workers. We must build a higher education system based on fairness, not precarity. We need to equip the next generation for the challenges of climate, technology and social change.

We must ensure all young people in this country have the same opportunities no matter where they live or what their postcode is. If they are in a socio-economically deprived area, it should not deter any young person from being involved in STEM. Science Week is a reminder that talent is everywhere and it is our job to ensure that opportunity is everywhere too.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Although I trained as a lawyer, science has always been part of my life. My mother was a dentist and my father was an engineer. They encouraged us to watch every television show on science. They subscribed to the New Scientist magazine and the National Geographic to encourage a love of science in us. My sister got the bug and she went on to get her PhD in chemistry. She and her husband have worked very successfully in biotech and pharma both here and abroad over the past number of years. When we travelled, we also visited science museums and I continue that tradition to this very day. I was in Milan a couple of weeks ago and the one museum I took time to visit was the Leonardo da Vinci science museum and I very much enjoyed my visit. Establishing and maintaining a science museum is challenging. The big science museums in Europe have been built over decades. They have received major donations. The museum in Milan had trams, trains, airplanes, rockets, helicopters and ships on display, all of which had been donated over the years. The collection was built up over the years through donations from private benefactors, sponsors for exhibits and some state support.

The challenge for a science museum is that it requires regular updates, which are costly. What is cutting-edge today will be a museum piece tomorrow. I have seen versions of my older mobile phones in museums and it does make me feel that I am ageing somewhat. It is an example of how exhibits have to be constantly updated. They have to be updated as new technology emerges. For example, most science museums are only now starting to develop their AI areas and upgrading their existing displays to take into account the impact artificial intelligence is having on existing technologies.

In Ireland, we have the knowledge of how challenging it is to run a science centre. In 2008, the Science Gallery opened in Trinity College Dublin and I visited multiple times. It put on fantastic exhibits. It was established with private sponsors from the science and tech industries from here and abroad. It was also supported by some public investment. However, after struggling through Covid-19, it closed in 2022 due a failure to find a lack of sustainable, ongoing funding.

In my constituency of Dublin Rathdown, the Explorium science centre opened in 2018, just before Covid-19. Despite having to close almost immediately after opening, it has survived. It demonstrates the public demand, support and interest in educational science. It is located in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains and has an impressive 10,000 sq. m. footprint with scope for expansion. I have visited Explorium and have seen how many schools take the opportunity to visit it. It is a science education day for students but because they enjoy the experience so much, many come back with their friends and family. It also has a resource for children with autism, which is regularly used with people just dropping. It has a fully resourced sensory space. This is also a valuable educational tool for everyone to understand the challenges that certain students and children have.

There is also a third potential science museum for the city centre, which has been in the planning since 2003. This has already had €4.2 million of taxpayers' funds invested in it but we still do not have a museum. Cost overruns and delays have been the subject of many media reports, including a "Prime Time" programme. The Comptroller and Auditor General has also written several reports on it. The most recent one highlighted a number of serious concerns with the ongoing project, including a lack of governance and in particular a lack of a Department sponsor, which may have contributed to the delays and cost overruns.

The Explorium in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains has shown that it possible to create and operate a science centre that caters to all ages. Its large, open site also provides scope for expansion, perhaps to include agriscience, especially with a link to the UCD school of veterinary medicine, which is close by, and Airfield, the city farm. However, having two competing museums so close to each other would threaten the viability of both. The closure of the Science Gallery demonstrates the challenge of the ongoing operating costs of science museums.

Museums in Europe like the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology in Milan and the Deutsches Museum in Munich show the key role of private investment and ongoing sponsorship, which are essential. It is also critical that we consider the value for money of investing further in yet another science museum in Dublin.

In the spirit of Science Week, I want to ask the Minister of State to urge the Department to take on a sponsorship role in the development of a national science centre for Dublin. By working together with Explorium and the Irish Children's Museum Company Limited, the sponsors of the proposed city centre site, there is potential to create a viable, sustainable and world-class science centre for Ireland. Of course, any museum of this scale would require some State support. We must get something effective from the millions of euro we have already invested in a science museum. The operators of Explorium have shown that they can operate a science museum successfully in Ireland. They have demonstrated that they understand the market, demand and opportunities. They have also created international connections with other science museums as they regularly take on board some of the travelling exhibits. The board of the Irish Children's Museum Company Limited obviously brings its scientific expertise, passion and determination.

Much has been written and spoken recently about the need to deliver on projects, to stop all of the project planning and to actually get projects built. We need to take leadership of the science museum project and get delivery. It is important that the Department of further and higher education take the lead on this. We want to encourage that spark in children and young people and encourage their early interest in science, to make science accessible and exciting to them. These early encounters with science are critical. They will encourage children to view STEM subjects as exciting, to take them up in school and to pursue a scientific career or even just tech-related hobbies, thus providing a level of support for and contribution to the knowledge economy that we so urgently need to maintain. By working with the current stakeholders and operators of science museums here in Ireland and harnessing their expertise, we could develop an attractive, exciting, accessible and affordable world-class science centre for Ireland. Today, during Science Week, I ask that the Minister of State and her Department take the lead on delivering on this potential and develop a world-class science centre for Ireland.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Before I start, I would like to welcome Councillor Kevin Meenan to this illustrious place. Obviously, he will be absolutely delighted to be mentioned and will not be embarrassed by it in any way, shape or form. In fairness, he will probably also say that the best thing I could do would be to use ChatGPT to prepare my speech rather than delivering what I am going to come out with now. Anyway, we are where we are.

I was in a committee earlier today dealing with the issue of drugs and the completely disastrous impact that they have had on society. We are talking here about science, the joy of science, and the possible future successes and solutions to some of the problems we have, from climate change right across the board. We need to make sure that we do not have a huge cohort of people who are locked out of education, which is the issue at the minute. We have had over-and-back discussions on the high cost of fees and accommodation and their impact on those who are already, or who would like to be, in further education. This needs to be addressed in a wholehearted way, which is not what we have seen in the recent budget.

We also need to provide supports at a far earlier stage for those on the margins. I have often talked about the need for early family intervention so we can ensure that we facilitate people to enter employment, life-long learning and so on. We have all seen advances in the last while, including at the Drogheda Institute of Further Education, DIFE, in my own constituency, as well as Ó Fiaich College and the PLC route, which members of my own family have used. These routes are particularly good for those who are not necessarily enamoured of the secondary school system and can enable them to get where they need to go. I have seen huge success stories in that regard. I welcome the fact that there is a far deeper relationship between the likes of Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT, and the further education colleges, as well as other universities across the State. That is absolutely necessary.

I do not think I have ever been in the Chamber to speak about this sort of topic previously without mentioning the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence, an absolutely spectacular facility that deals with industry from the point of view of producing what is needed. When we talk about apprenticeships, we are not just talking about the traditional trades but also about the likes of AI, robotics and so on. There was much talk earlier in relation to disability and we need to see increased input around assistive technologies in the context of autism and other disabilities. A lot more work needs to be done in that area.

There is also a particular issue with regard to the personal assistants who do great work in further education but who do not have the contracts they require. I have no doubt that both the Minister and the Minister of State are aware of it and that we will get a solution.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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I am delighted to contribute to this debate today during Science Week. As spokesperson for this area, I have had the pleasure over the last number of months of meeting many groups, organisations and people working in this area. I would like to talk about the main issues that could prevent us from being a world-class leader in science if they are not addressed.

We need to ensure that our primary schools are fully resourced for those naturally inquisitive minds that children have. The Minister talked about curiosity and I agree with him 100%. Curiosity for science starts when children are very young and we need to harness that all of the way through our education system.

Each year, primary schools can put forward projects for Science Blast. In January, I went to visit it and my mind was blown away by the projects there. I am not sure if the Minister of State was there but it was something else. One of the schools in my constituency, Griffith Barracks Multi-Denominational School, asked which was better, hearing or reading? They tested 54 people and their results showed that people did better when they heard the instructions. They said that the judge praised them highly and I am praising them again now. It was a fantastic project. What is fantastic about starting to explore science in primary school is that it stops the growth of any barriers to who can be a scientist and all of the stereotypes that can be fed in as children go along. However, every primary school has to be fully equipped with materials and resources to be able to harness that curiosity.

At second level, there are also concerns. At a recent meeting of the education committee, we heard from teacher unions and organisations about leaving certificate reform. The Irish Science Teachers' Association said that because there had not been the necessary investment at second level in science laboratories in particular, there were health and safety risks due to insufficient space for lab work, a lack of safety guidance and no risk assessment protocols. That needs to be set out under the new curriculum reform. I understand that the Minister wants to work on this. If we go to the bother of reforming the curriculum to make it the best it can be, it is imperative that we put the resources behind that.

The I Wish survey revealed that girls in all-female schools continued to face greater barriers to studying STEM subjects. The Department of education's indicator report in 2024 showed that only 71% of girls were offered STEM subjects other than maths and sciences as opposed to 96% of boys in boys schools. The research showed that while girls' STEM achievement had improved in mixed schools, stereotypes in mixed classrooms still limited their participation and confidence. Construction studies was available in 84% of co-educational schools but in only 5% of single-sex girls schools. Engineering was available in 74% of co-educational schools but only in 6% of single-sex girls schools. That is a huge disadvantage for those girls. We need to seriously look at our school structures and make sure that they are not disadvantaging young people based on their gender or indeed, where they are from or their socioeconomic background.

If we are to stay as world class as we are in STEM, that needs to be addressed fundamentally. The Minister needs to take leadership on that. That goes for all Ministers working in education, as both Departments have responsibility for that. Youth services are really challenging the issue. They are working in areas and providing really good STEM projects. In the South West Inner City Network, SWICN, in Dublin 8, there is a project with a 3D printer, which is a fantastic resource. That is beneficial to young people, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

At third level, there are initiatives to address STEM. Today would not be a good day to fail to mention Dr. Katriona O Sullivan's STEM passport for inclusion, because the work she has done has seen 5,000 young women go through that programme learning about STEM. They have experienced it not just at school, but elsewhere. That allows young people to believe they can be whatever they want to be. They experience that hands on, harnessing that curiosity. I praise Dr. O'Sullivan and Maynooth University to ensure it is rolled out to as many young people as possible. The students in Clogher Road Community College in my constituency are taking part in it and I look forward to visiting them as they do that.

I recently met staff of the Amber Centre, hosted by Trinity College. I was fascinated to see its programme and how its pillars link in with industry. A lot of people talk about talent. It is not my favourite word when we talk about people and their interest in STEM, but if that is the way we describe it, that is fine. I was struck by the people in that fantastic centre saying that the equipment they had was out of date. How they explained it to me was - I do not really want to name things, but I will - it was the equivalent of having a Nokia "blockia" rather than the most up-to-date iPhone or such phone. If we want to be the best we can, we cannot be working with out-of-date equipment. Like the Minister said, we need to be looking at materials and instruments that are for the future, not the past.

I am delighted to speak about science today. The Social Democrats takes it very seriously. We celebrate the things that are going well. To be the best we can in the world, we need to make sure we have the resources. I commend the Minister on his passion in this area. I will say that. His interest in the area has moved us on quite a lot.

Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)
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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.

Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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Science Week celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, marking three decades of encouraging curiosity, innovation and public engagement with science. However, Science Week is more than a calendar of events. It is a reminder that science underpins almost every aspect of modern life, including health, the climate change response, the economy, infrastructure and the daily choices we make as individuals and communities. This year's theme - Then. Today. Tomorrow. - invites us to reflect on the progress we have made, the challenges we face and the kind of scientific future we want to build.

As a doctor, I am reminded daily that science is not an academic concept; it is the practical foundation of modern healthcare. It is the diagnostics, treatments, evidence and technology that allow us to deliver better outcomes for patients. Science shows up in every decision we make in practice and this is not unique to medicine. Whether we talk about agriculture, manufacturing, communications or energy, science is embedded in the practical, everyday functioning of our society. That is why Science Week is so important. It brings science into the public square and strengthens the connection between innovation and ordinary life.

However, when we talk about the future of science in Ireland, we must address one of the most persistent challenges, that is, the under-representation of women in key scientific fields. We know the pattern. In early education, girls show just as much interest and ability in science as boys, but somewhere between secondary school, higher education and postgraduate research, we see a narrowing pipeline. This is not because girls lose interest, but too often, the system loses them, and the consequences of that under-representation are not abstract. Women shape the quality of our research, the fairness of our systems and the safety of our innovations. When women are not fully included in shaping scientific questions, designing algorithms or leading research teams, the solutions we produce risk reflecting only part of society and have real-world implications. Historically, medical research often excluded women, leading to gaps in diagnostic understanding and treatment. One example is the under-diagnosis of acute heart attack in women because of different symptoms. Early voice recognition technology struggled to recognise female voices because data sets were skewed and, even today, AI systems can replicate biases if teams lack diversity. These are reminders that the direction science takes is not neutral by default. It is shaped by who is at the table, and if women are not fully represented, we all feel the impact.

I have spoken to many bright young women in schools across Roscommon and Galway, students who are curious, engaged and ambitious. They are interested in engineering, medicine, technology and research but they still tell me they do not see enough people who look like them in these careers and that visibility matters. Role models matter. Mentorship matters. Pathways matter. If we want to inspire the next generation, we need to signal clearly that science is for everyone, not defined by gender, postcode or background. If we are serious about widening the pipeline, we must confront the structural barriers that still shape girls' access to STEM.

I will repeat what Deputy Jen Cummins said, as it is worth repeating. A recent survey of 2,300 transition year students highlighted the stark differences. Some 55% of girls in single-sex schools say limited subject choice is a barrier compared with 37% in mixed schools. Some 46% of girls cite limited subject options more broadly as a barrier to STEM careers and the contrast in access is striking. Just 5% of girls in all-girls schools can study construction studies compared with 84% in mixed settings and only 6% can take engineering compared with 74% of their peers. The pattern persists nationally, with 71% of girls schools offering only one additional STEM subject beyond maths or science compared with 96% of boys schools.

These gaps matter. Early exposure shapes confidence, ambition and opportunity. Until access is equal, participation cannot be equal.

This is particularly important for rural Ireland. The future of Irish science is not and should not be urban-centric. We have extraordinary potential in the west of Ireland, with world-class medtech clusters, agricultural innovation, digital health research and a strong network of universities and higher institutes linked to industry, producing genuinely world-class work. Potential needs support. It needs investment in research capacity, educational outreach and infrastructure that ensures that scientific opportunity is truly national. The recent budget shows this Government's support for research and development, with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, being instrumental in increasing the amount of tax relief available to businesses undertaking research and development activities in the State. The threshold for first-year refunds in the research and development tax credit scheme will increase to €87,000 for smaller projects. I know the Minister, Deputy Lawless's commitment to the concept of our higher level educational establishments, linking with industry to create the technology and jobs of tomorrow. Rural Ireland should not be the last place to benefit from innovation. It should be the driver of it.

This is especially clear from a healthcare perspective. We cannot deliver 21st century medicine with 20th century systems. Our ability to diagnose early, treat effectively and deliver care in the right place at the right time depends on investment in evidence-based practice, digital health, data systems and modern medical technologies. Science and medicine advance together. When science progresses, patient outcomes improve.

As we celebrate 30 years of Science Week, we should think not only about the discoveries that have brought us here, but the kind of scientific culture that we want to build for the next 30 years, a culture that supports curiosity, welcomes women and men equally, recognises the value of rural innovation and sees science not only as something distant or elite, but as a shared national project.

My message today is simple: science is not a spectator sport. It requires investment, participation and public engagement. It requires us to inspire young people, especially our young girls, to step into fields where their talents are needed, and it requires us to ensure the benefits of scientific progress reach every community in Ireland, not just a few. I thank the educators, researchers and community groups as well as the industry partners who make Science Week possible each year. To the students taking part, keep asking questions and keep challenging assumptions. To the girls in our schools who are wondering whether science is for them, let me say clearly that science is absolutely for you. Ireland needs your ideas, leadership and voice, then, today, and tomorrow, and here is to the next 30 years of science and the people who will shape it.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the opportunity to speak on statements on Science Week, the annual celebration that highlights the important role that science, technology, engineering and maths play in our lives. This week is more than just a showcase of innovation. It is a vital spark, igniting curiosity in the next generation and reminding us all of the power of evidence and inquiry. From the smartphones in our pockets to the medical advancements in our hospitals, science is the bedrock of our modern society and economy. It provides the tools to tackle our greatest challenges, from climate change and energy security to public health and sustainable agriculture. Indeed, some of those very topics were tackled in the posters presented in Leinster House during the week by researchers from across the country. I commend those involved in the posters and the Oireachtas this week.

In an increasingly complex world, a scientifically literate citizenry is not a luxury but a necessity for informed democratic participation. However, a celebration of science must also be a commitment to its future. For Ireland to truly thrive as a nation of innovators, we must be a nation of skilled scientists and researchers. This requires a sustained strategic commitment from the Government to foster talent and interest at every stage of the pipeline. We must start in our classrooms be ensuring our teachers have the resources and support to make STEM subjects engaging and accessible to every child regardless of sex or background. On this, the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, along with her senior Minister and the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, must engage with the Irish Science Teachers' Association. It has serious concerns that need to be addressed and others have echoed that.

We must strengthen the bridges between our research institutions and industry, ensuring that brilliant ideas are translated into tangible solutions and enterprise here in Ireland. Crucially, this means robust and sustained Government support for training programmes. We need to invest in apprenticeships, upskilling initiatives and postgraduate opportunities that equip our people with the high-tech, hands-on skills demanded by the modern workforce. This is not merely an educational policy; it is an economic imperative. By backing our scientists, researchers and technicians, we are investing in jobs, Irish enterprise and Irish solutions to global problems. We are also investing in our people, in their futures and their potential.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is good that we have this debate every year about the importance of science. The Government, to my mind, largely pays lip service to the importance of science but does not actually translate it in reality into backing science and encouraging those who are working in the area of science, research and development. What is my evidence for saying that? First of all, there is the plight of about 10,000 to 12,000 PhD researchers who, in recent years, have felt compelled to organise themselves into a union through the Postgraduate Workers' Organisation. Some of their demands are articulated by unions in the third level sector, like the Irish Federation of University Teachers, IFUT, who have explained about the poverty that they suffer. It is quite incredible. It is important to note that our public universities are held together by postgraduate researchers and academic staff who are on part-time contracts, effectively if-and-when contracts, living on very low pay with almost no rights as workers, in the case of PhD researchers, or literally no rights as workers. They are not recognised as workers, but they hold together our universities, research and our third level education system. Without them, we would not have those things, but we treat them in a shameful way.

Due to their campaigning, the Government was forced to raise up to, in most cases, a minimum stipend level of €25,000, but that is still minimum wage for people who are highly educated and supposed to be the cutting edge. They are the basis on which we educate our young people, give them third level education and engage in their research that really counts, but they live on minimum wage. It is absolutely outrageous. That compares with our European counterparts, where you are talking more like €30,000, €40,000 and, in some cases, €50,000 for doing what are actually real jobs. We are exploiting people who do the research and science and who teach our young people in third level education. I would say that 50% of those who live in universities are living in precarity of one sort or another, or are not even recognised as workers. Then there are the barriers that we put in the way of accessing higher education more generally, most notably third level fees and fees for postgraduate degrees, all of which are barriers to people getting into higher levels of education and areas of research and innovation, which would put us at the cutting edge that we keep saying we are trying to put ourselves at. This is borne out in overall figures. The average spend in Europe in the area of research is 3%.

We spend about 1.7% to 1.9%, which is significantly lower. This is the land of saints and scholars, but there are not many saints, in my opinion, and we are definitely not looking after the scholars in this area.

Do we give money to some? The answer is “Yes”. When we say things, such as that we should get rid of postgraduate fees, give them a decent stipend, treat them as workers or get rid of third level fees, people ask where that is coming from - the socialist magic money tree? They say that Ireland could not actually do that. We cost this every year, however. To get rid of the postgraduate and mature repeating student fees would cost €100 million, to give a stipend to all PhD researchers of at least €30,000 a year would cost €225 million, and to close the funding gap and maintain the existing level of funding would cost €355 million. Anyone would think that is quite a lot of money. However, how much do we give out to the big multinational corporations in research and development grants every year? Last year, it was €1.4 billion. That was up from the previous year, when it was €1.1 billion, and up €400 million from the previous year, when it was €700 million. That is not even examined in the budget. Most people do not bother to look at tax expenditures, which are the shadow budget in this country, the shadow giveaways to the big multinationals, which are already making astronomical profits.

What are they researching? They might be researching iPhone version 15 for Bill Gates, Elon Musk or the billionaires and trillionaires to further boost their profits, which are going through the roof. That is where the money is going. It is money that should be going to the universities, to getting rid of fees for students, to postgraduate researchers and to poorly paid, precariously employed academic staff in order to boost this State’s ability to engage in cutting-edge research, put ourselves at the higher levels of education and develop our domestic economy and our own capacity. But no, we are handing it out in another massive giveaway to the billionaires of this world, who are largely located in the United States and are now the cheerleaders for Donald Trump. That is what is going on. It is just ridiculous.

We will never manage to be the country of saints, but we could do the scholars bit in a serious way if we redirected even half of what we are giving away in research and development tax reliefs to a tiny group of probably ten or 15 big multinationals. They are making so much profit that the idea they would all be running out of the country is nonsense. In any case, that is only one of the tax reliefs they are getting. They are getting enormous tax reliefs, which, again, we detail every single year in our budget submission.

Intragroup transactions are another tax expenditure and they were worth €4.4 billion last year to the same companies. They get tax breaks on the losses they make so they can carry them forward, but when they make profits, they do not pay tax the next year. This amounted to €2.4 billion last year. In total, guess how much these big multinationals get in tax breaks each year? It is €22 billion. It is flipping enormous. It is a scandal, and it is almost never discussed. Before they pay any tax, they use these tax loopholes, so they do not actually pay 12.5%, 15% or anything like it. While ordinary workers are paying 20%, 30% or 40% of their income or more, these fellows are paying 6%, 7% or 8%, and, as we know, some are paying less than 1% while making astronomical profits.

In a choice between enriching Apple, Google, Facebook and already spectacularly profitable pharmaceutical companies to research stuff that, for the most part, we do not need at all, is of little benefit to us and, in some cases, is actually doing damage to our society, would it not be better to redirect that money towards researchers and young people to access higher level education, and towards our universities to advance science, research and innovation? It is a no-brainer, but it requires putting people and our society before profit.

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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It is not really fair to have to follow Deputy Boyd Barrett, but I will kick the ball that is in front of me, which is Science Week. This week, we celebrate Science Week, a national event that for 30 years has brought communities, schools and researchers together to explore and celebrate the power and potential of science in shaping our society. The theme for this year, "Then. Today. Tomorrow.”, invites us to look back at how science has transformed Ireland, to recognise the role it plays in our day-to-day lives and to imagine the possibilities it holds for our future as Ireland continues to invest in knowledge, innovation and understanding.

As Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy, I am particularly conscious of the role that science plays in shaping our response to one of the defining challenges of our time, the climate crisis. Science gives us the knowledge, evidence and tools we need to make informed decisions regarding our environment and the sustainability of our economy in the long term. It ensures that urgency and understanding go hand in hand as we deal with these issues. Across Ireland, researchers are developing ideas and technologies that will drive our transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future. From renewable energy to biodiversity protection, Irish researchers are creating solutions that will shape a cleaner, fairer and more sustainable country that will be to the benefit of us all.

Science Week is a chance to celebrate this work and to engage people of all ages, young and old, in the excitement of discovery. Supported by Science Foundation Ireland and Research Ireland, hundreds of events are taking place around the country, from exhibitions and talks to hands-on experiments in schools and community centres. In my constituency of Dublin Bay North, I am delighted to have been invited by SciFest to attend its national final, which will take place at the Marino Conference Centre on Friday, 21 November. SciFest is a shining example of what Science Week is all about, giving young people the opportunity to explore ideas, challenge themselves and their friends and showcase their creativity and talent. I pay tribute to all the teachers, muinteoirí, mentors, volunteers and parents who support and encourage these young scientists, day in, day out, and all those who make Science Week possible each year. Their continuous enthusiasm and dedication ensure that science is accessible to everyone, regardless of background or ability.

Science Week also reminds us of the importance of evidence-based policy. As policymakers, we do not always take this to heart. We have a duty to ensure that the decisions we take, particularly in the areas of climate, environment and energy, are informed by sound research, evidence and the best available tools. The challenges we face are complex, and they require thoughtful, informed and science-led responses. That is why the work of researchers, educators and innovators across Ireland is so critical and should be valued. They are not just advancing scientific understanding. They are helping us to shape better policy, protect our environment and create sustainable opportunities for communities across the country.

The climate transition will require innovation on a scale we have never seen before in Ireland and around the world. It will also require collaboration and public trust. Science Week plays a small but vital role in fostering that trust by demystifying science, breaking down barriers and showing that curiosity and creativity are open to all. As we celebrate 30 years of Science Week, we can be proud of the progress Ireland has made. We are now recognised globally for our research excellence, our commitment to education and our leadership in sustainability and energy innovation. There is still a lot to do, however, and science must be part of that journey. I encourage everyone, especially our young people, to take part in Science Week events, to explore, to ask questions and to imagine what science can do for their own and Ireland’s future. I want to thank Síofra Ní Earcain, a second-year student at Trinity College, who worked with us this week and who exemplifies the value of research and education for the future of our country. Let us continue to support our scientists, invest in research and ensure that science remains at the heart of public policy and our national progress.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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It is fair to say that over the last decade in particular, Ireland has made some commendable efforts to foster a culture of scientific creativity and collaboration within the academic institutions and industry, and also in terms of policy development.

You have to give credit where it is due. Obviously, it could be said that Science Week lies at the heart of this movement because it is a flagship initiative that predated the foundation of Science Foundation Ireland and its merger with the Irish Research Council to form Research Ireland. From these humble beginnings, Science Week has grown into a national celebration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As the Minister of State mentioned, this year marks its 30th anniversary. It is good to see that in 2025, the Government has allocated almost €850,000 to support 36 projects in 14 regional festivals, engaging communities across the country. The theme of Science Week - "Then. Today. Tomorrow" - invites everyone to reflect on past achievements, current challenges and future possibilities. Just opposite the gates of this institution, the Houses of the Oireachtas, we have one of the Science Week exhibitions, the Museum of the Moon exhibition, by the artist Luke Jerram. It is taking place in Merrion Square from today, 13 November, until 15 November. It entails an internally lit 7 m diameter sphere featuring a 120 dpi NASA map of the moon's surface. The scale is approximately 1:500,000, meaning each centimetre represents 5 km of the moon's terrain. It looks like a very interesting feature and I would encourage anyone to pop across and have a look. It is going to be more interesting when it is dark. There are so many other interesting events around the country.

Science Week is more than just a series of events, however. It is supposed to be a strategic tool for public engagement, especially with our young people. Through exhibitions, school visits and community initiatives, it brings science into everyday life. It is supposed to demystify research and showcase our innovation, and it encourages young people to imagine themselves as the scientists, engineers and inventors of the future.

It is also very important at a time of misinformation and disinformation where science is not just questioned but blatantly ignored, manipulated by opportunistic charlatans for self-promotion and financial gain, politicised and often used as a tool, as I have said in previous speeches, by bad actors and rogue states to threaten our way of life. You have only to look at Facebook to see the stuff that is spouted, along with the so-called YouTube experts. Deputy Hayes mentioned the climate change deniers, those totally against vaccines without looking at and balancing up the research, and the chemtrail conspiracists – you name it. People go down the rabbit hole one way or another and then they jump into other echo chambers.

I welcome the input of successive Governments in the development of Science Week. Beyond Science Week, Ireland has invested in research and infrastructure through innovation hubs, public engagement initiatives for funding calls and strong partnerships with academic institutions. These efforts align with current national goals to position Ireland as a global leader. The question remains as to whether Ireland is a global leader in research and development. The answer is mixed. We have shown leadership in some ways. According to the UK Science and Innovation Network country summary, we are first in the world for knowledge diffusion, third for knowledge impact, sixth for university–industry research and development collaboration and 15th for overall scientific research quality. With regard to subject-specific excellence, we are second globally for agricultural sciences, fourth in immunology and neuroscience behaviour, sixth in microbiology and seventh in pharmacology and toxicology. Of course, we have also been successful in securing EU funding, such as the €1 billion from the EU's Horizon 2020 programme.

Like others, I welcomed the news earlier this year that Ireland had officially joined the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, as an associate member. I was honoured to be able to pair with the relevant Minister, Deputy James Lawless, so he could attend the launch. It is very important to be an associate member.

We have a lot done but we do have more to do because, despite the successes we have had, there are many areas where policy commitments and financial commitments fall short. In this regard, compare investment levels with those of other countries. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett, mentioned an average rate of 3% across the EU. Ireland invests less than 1.5%, or maybe 1.7%, of GDP on research and development, depending on the year. This is below the EU average and it is significantly lower than the rates of countries like South Korea, Israel, Germany and the US, whose rates are 4.8%, 5.4%, 3.1% and 3.5%, respectively. Even though the US is regressing owing to its anti-science agenda, it is still investing over twice as much as we are in research and development.

Other speakers have mentioned various areas where we are falling down. An example is our outdated equipment. I will not go too much into this subject but it is certainly an issue as part of the overall investment deficit, as are the pay and conditions of academic staff, particularly researchers and PhD students, who need better allowances and stipends.

Let us consider schools. While funding for Science Week has increased, it still represents a small fraction of the broader science budget, which itself, as I referred to in terms of research and development, could do with an increase, based on the figures in other developed countries. Long-term investment in science education at primary and secondary levels needs to be increased because it remains inconsistent. Many schools still lack access to modern laboratory facilities or dedicated STEM educators, especially but not exclusively in rural areas.

Ireland continues to face challenges in gender equality in STEM areas, which I focused on a lot when I was mayor of South Dublin County Council back in 2017–2018. While we have initiatives like Smart Futures and STEM Passport for Inclusion to try to close the gender gap, girls in Ireland are still less likely to pursue science subjects at leaving certificate level than peers in countries like Finland or Estonia, and especially the likes of South Korea, which I have referred to. The uptake of physics and computer science among Irish girls lags behind the EU average and female representation in engineering and technology courses is still very much disproportionately low. It is not just about numbers; it is about the system, cultural issues, stereotypes, the lack of visible female role models and the lack of career guidance. We have to do more to challenge all these norms and create a new norm – a new inclusive pathway for STEM for girls.

One issue I am looking at now is that of same-sex schools, which I believe are now outdated. While there is a model for parental preferences, it should be like Australia, where you have to go to a private school if you want to go to a same-sex school. All schools in the country should be co-educational. We have a historic issue, in that the religious were the instigators of the education system in this country. Boards of management are autonomous but every single same-sex boys' or girls' school in the country should consider merging with another. Science is one angle, but so too is access to playing pitches and other facilities. There is a huge imbalance and it is very unfair on our girls.

Science Week is a welcome event but it needs to be more wide-ranging. We possibly need a Science Month for starters and then progress to sustained year-round engagement through curriculum reform, teacher training and appropriate industry partnerships. Science should not just be subject to a once-a-year celebration. So, what can be done? We need to increase the funding for STEM education, as I have said, expand the mentorship and outreach programmes that connect girls with female scientists and engineers and integrate science and critical thinking into the national curriculum.

There are proposals to increase public research and development investment, which are welcome, and I have a few ideas in this regard that I would like considered. We could be a leader in artificial intelligence and definitely in the field of renewable technology, especially as we have seen some movement in offshore wind. We need to investigate wave energy as well, along with all other types of climate technology. We must also consider pharmaceuticals and particularly the making of new inventions from scratch.

Gillian Toole (Meath East, Independent)
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I welcome the opportunity to discuss Science Week 2025, whose theme this year is "Then. Today. Tomorrow" and how past knowledge informs present and future science. I commend Science Foundation Ireland, now Research Ireland, on its vision to establish Science Week 30 years ago. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, and the Minister for the continuing investment in STEM subjects, personnel and facilities.

Essential to the study of science is a quest for knowledge: challenging past theories, proving theories and improving outcomes. It also involves experimenting with variables – for example, temperature, light, dark, moisture, drought, age, gender, ethnicity, wellness, illness and so on – changing them and then examining the new outcomes.

My experience and love of science began, definitely 50-plus years ago, in St. Seachnall's school in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, with the very simple concept of the nature table.

I hope we can go back there at some stage. That was followed afterwards with the expansion to biology, chemistry and maths in Cabra, Dublin 7. Then, down the road from here, I studied life sciences with a degree in pharmacy at Trinity College Dublin. I studied genetics, physics, statistics, botany and all of the different “ologies”, including physiology, microbiology and zoology. That continued on to the pharmaceutical sciences where, in our final year, we were let loose on patients in St. James’s Hospital for our practice of pharmacy.

Common to every branch of pharmacy that we studied along this journey was the ability and necessity to question at every step. We were encouraged and, in some cases, demanded to question past theories, prove a theory and improve on past outcomes. This involved a lot of messing around in the labs, to the chagrin of many of the lecturers who at the stage feared they might have to call the fire services. The memories of Friday practical sessions in pharmaceutical chemistry with projects, as well as Ms Esmond’s mixed-bag interrogations, haunt me to this day.

When I entered the world of community pharmacy after graduation, the curiosity continued. In order to help patients effectively in the pharmacy – Deputies who have gone into a pharmacy for assistance with over-the-counter medicines might not know this – there are at least five basic questions we must ask in order to come up with a solution. We must ask about the who; the what; the how; the action; any other medication; whether there is a child aged under two; and whether there is a pregnancy. Preparing prescriptions involves more in-depth questioning of doctors, nurses, carers and hospital teams, all to improve health outcomes. Long may that curiosity and questioning continue to ensure that these best outcomes are achieved.

It is fair to say that science was never meant to be followed. Its very essence, from the time of Archimedes, Galileo, Hippocrates and Pasteur to former influential lecturers Des Corrigan and Ingrid Hook, was always rooted in curiosity and questioning. In 2020, a most worrying development arose with the outbreak of a new virus, followed by a new gene therapy, messenger RNA, mRNA, therapy. The instructions were to follow the science. If people asked any question, despite having a scientific background, they were labelled as, perhaps, a conspiracy theorist and vilified. Now, new and disturbing peer-reviewed research and evidence on this gene therapy is available from Italy, Japan and the US. It must be investigated and followed up on in the true spirit of science. Analysis is also being carried out on recent CSO data into medical mortality rates in the 15 to 24 age category. Again, this is science-based and it must be questioned and followed up on.

In accordance with the objectives of the programme for Government, Ireland aims to be a centre of excellence in research and development, particularly in the areas of healthcare and technology. In these endeavours, we must embrace and encourage curiosity and questioning continuously. Public-private partnerships and industry collaborations in every area of science must be clearly and unambiguously advertised as such to ensure that informed decisions can be made by citizens and the Government on behalf of the taxpayer.

To go full circle, back to childhood, may we create environments where children’s curiosity can be supported and satiated, informed by facts and not ideologies.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank everyone in the House for the opportunity to have this debate and their contributions. Many of them were quite insightful and thoughtful.

As a former science and maths teacher, I am pleased to see so many people across the country participating in Science Week because it is about making science fun, accessible, interesting and real. I agree with Deputies Eoin Hayes and Paul Gogarty that distrust in science is growing and we need to find ways to deal with this. Science Week is one of the ways we can help manage it. While it is just a piece of the jigsaw, it is an important one because we can assist in that work to support all the fantastic, novel and interesting events that are taking place all over the country this week.

For too many people, for too long, science has been seen as out of reach and maybe something reserved for the clever ones. In truth, however, science is for everyone. Deputy Martin Daly put it in simple terms - science supports every aspect of our lives, from healthcare to the sustainable food we eat, the systems that support our societies and everything, from transport to cybersecurity.

The most important thing that I can say about Science Week is that it is about connecting children and ordinary people, with no scientific background whatsoever, to the science that is all around us. We are lucky in Sligo to have a fabulous science fair at the ATU. It started last Sunday and events are taking place for the entire week. It is organised by the faculty of science at ATU Sligo. For many years, I have attended these events and they are fascinating. They are fun and family friendly. Titles of some of the shows include “The Electrifying Energy Show”, “The Mad Professor”, “Desert Bloom” and “Who Are You Callin’ Airhead?" If those titles do not pique people’s interest, I am not sure what will. There are a lot of interactive exhibits, such as “Science on Stilts” and “Marine Life Discovery”, as well as hands-on challenges in the ATU’s new teaching gym. That is just one day. For the rest of the week, there are a lot of other events taking place.

I am just going to mention one event that is taking place on Friday night in Slish Wood. It is a guided night-time adventure with Northwest Adventure Tours looking at the Leonids meteor shower. For those who do not know what that is - I had to look it up as well - that meteor shower occurs every November but, this year in particular, because the moon is just a thin crescent and the night sky will be very dark, the meteor shower will be seen very clearly. Those interested can go there to see this. It is happening all over the country but if people want it explained, it is happening in Slish Wood on Friday night.

That is not the only interesting thing that is happening, however. Another event that caught my attention is "Juggling Quadratics for Queens" in the Island Theatre in Ballinamore. As a former maths teacher, when I saw the word “quadratic”, I wondered what this was about. In fact, it is teaching. The “queens” part of the title means this event is for young women and girls. It will teach them how to juggle. It is a fun event which combines, believe it or not, the solving of quadratic equations with the skill of juggling. It is an absolutely fascinating and fun event. It sounds complex. Those are the kinds of things that get people, especially young women, interested in STEM. I am really pleased to say that my former school, Mercy College Sligo, where I was a maths teacher for many years, is hosting that event this afternoon. This is about encouraging young women to see that science, engineering, mathematics and technology is for them.

There are many other events taking place, such as those taking place in Ballyshannon Library, the historic town atlases and the other events in many schools. While I have mentioned some of the events in my constituency - we tend to do that here - these are just a tiny number among the vast number of events taking place across the country. I encourage everyone to see what is still happening. Nearly half of the week is left. Just go and see if you are interested.

We are living in a time of huge change. There are real opportunities. For Ireland, this is not just a challenge but a chance to lead. I have heard many Deputies this evening talk about this. Further education and training are at the heart of the transformation we need to make.

Through FET, we are building bridges between education and employment. It is crucial that we are creating flexible routes to allow people to learn, upskill and reskill throughout their lives. Literacy, numeracy and digital skills remain core priorities. FET is not just about that, however. It is also about green skills, advanced technologies and innovation. Apprenticeships are a cornerstone of this vision. They offer a powerful, earn-as-you-learn model, combining real world experience with qualifications that are nationally recognised. Ireland now has over 77 apprenticeship programmes, from traditional roles to cutting edge and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biopharma, robotics and data analysis. These programmes are shaping careers. They are giving learners practical skills and employers the talent they need to thrive. Apprentices are gaining confidence, skills and meaningful employment opportunities. From all the surveys we have done, they are telling us this route is working.

As a Minister of State, I am proud to support and advance an apprenticeship system that is inclusive, responsive and central to our future workforce. The backbone of our innovation economy is STEM. We need more STEM professionals every year to meet demand in sectors like engineering, software and advanced manufacturing. Apprenticeships and FET are critical to closing that gap. They offer alternative routes into high-value roles and help to ensure talent is not lost because not everyone has followed a rigid traditional pathway.

A small bit of kindness and encouragement can make all the difference in the lives of children in building their confidence and self-esteem and in seeing themselves as capable of going after their dreams and realising their potential, whatever that might be. In that context, I encourage parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers and communities to get involved, take an interest and share a conversation with their young people. Then, today and tomorrow is a chance to celebrate the endeavours of yesteryear that have brought us to where we are and to consider what might lie ahead for individuals, families, communities, Ireland and the entire planet.

I thank everyone today for their contributions. I listened to all of them. I have heard many comments about the need for further investment in innovation. While I do not have the exact figures in front of me, I can say there has been a very significant increase in resources for research and innovation in this budget. Yes, we have a way to go. This budget, however, has certainly taken not a small step but a very sizeable in trying to close that gap. I thank Dáil Éireann for hosting and agreeing to have these statements today in the 30th year of science week. The world needs to support science now more than ever. Once again, I thank the Deputies who specifically made that point. I really appreciate it