Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I formally second Senator Fitzgerald's amendment. Job creation should be one of the highest priorities, if not the highest, for all of us in the current climate.

I want to bring to the Leader's attention something that should be everybody's concern, that is, a recent report by the University of Limerick which, following research, found that almost half of Irish mathematics teachers are not qualified to teach that subject. This should be of major concern. The report recommends that there should be postgraduate qualifications in mathematics. Is it any wonder that recently Engineers Ireland has shown real concern over the lack of engineering graduates? I question Government's commitment to the area of science and engineering, if this is going on in our national and secondary schools. I ask the Leader to bring the Minister for Education and Science into the House to debate this important matter.

Already we see science-based testing being exported out of this country. We will debate cancer research later. All the cervical smear testing is exported to America. We do not have our own national laboratory capable of conducting smear tests, which is a national disgrace. Senator Ó Brolcháin would know well about the cryptosporidiosis problem in Galway. All of that testing on water, our most natural resource, is exported to the UK and Scotland, which also is a national disgrace. If we seek real commitment in science and engineering, we need to address it at the fundamental level, that is, at school. It is a disgrace that almost half those teaching mathematics are not qualified to do so, and I ask the Leader to address that.

Is it my imagination or is the Minister for Defence's nose growing longer? The Leader might answer that. I would appreciate it.