Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I wish to declare that I am a member of the Oireachtas science foundation group which promotes the sciences and come from a background in the sciences. I welcome the Bill and agree with Senator Leyden that it has great potential. However, I ask that the Leader arranges for the House to debate progress in the area one year from now. I have every confidence in Dr. Bill Harris as director general of the foundation. However, I have grave concerns about the Government's commitment to the sciences.

A recent report suggests that there have been severe cutbacks in graduate research – a backward step. This is a modern progressive country and research is vital. We must continue to plan for five and ten years down the line and research is the only way we can do so. I urge the Government to examine the budgets for research and, if they have been cut back as severely as has been reported, to look at reinstating them. Daily newspaper reports refer to underspends in Departments. Therefore, there is money floating around somewhere. One area we cannot afford to ignore is the sciences.

We must look at the issue from the bottom up by promoting the sciences in primary schools. I was a teacher before I became a Senator. The new curriculum of the 1970s introduced the sciences, which was a great idea. However, the Department of Education and Science gave no resources to schools or teachers to teach them. Therefore, the curriculum never got off the ground. The Department is now making fresh attempts under a new curriculum to teach them.