Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I join Senator Alex White in welcoming the announcement of a merger of research facilities. It is an excellent initiative that could lead to 30,000 new jobs. I also agree with Senator MacSharry, who stated that the initiative should be extended. We are talking about a four-mile enterprise corridor between the two universities, but that is merely a pathway. We should consider extending it to other third level institutions, perhaps as far north as Queen's University Belfast, the Dundalk Institute of Technology and other regional institutions, including Sligo Institute of Technology. It bodes well for the country. Nokia emerged after little investment in Scandinavia. Given that the next large company will come from the information technology or the green sector, we should be investing in those areas.

We should, therefore, encourage more and more people into maths and science, an issue that was raised in the House yesterday. Forfás, in its most recent document on education and training, pointed out that we have a higher number of maths and science graduates than the rest of Europe. The figure might be as high as 50% and, while it is declining, it is also declining across Europe. Many people are attracted into the maths and science fields. Will the Leader arrange for a debate on how to ensure that level of attractiveness is maintained? It should include a discussion on college fees, access to third level education and access to other educational centres. The McIver report on FETAC colleges, which should have been implemented three or four years ago, should be debated. Will the Leader arrange for a wide-ranging debate on third level education?