Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

We value education and are trying to move towards the high end, such as by investing in fourth level and doubling the number of PhDs, but these are not the end. People will not be able to access that education because they dropped out earlier. They must be continually upskilled. Many went into trades, which are fine in and of themselves, but people must be skilled in other areas as an economy evolves. Conceptual training should be considered.

There is much food for thought. Ireland is well positioned to grasp opportunities and to meet the many challenges arising from globalisation. As a society, we must have the confidence to know that, if we put our minds and resources to something, we can meet every challenge.