Irish science has a new team of supporters - a group of TDs and senators known as 'The Friends of Science'. Dick Ahlstrom examines their views and plans
Oireachtas members come from a variety of backgrounds with teachers, lawyers, farmers and publicans predominant. There are a few with science training, however, and some of these have now come together in support of science.
Late last month the Tánaiste, Mary Harney, introduced "The Friends of Science", a group that includes members of all Oireachtas parties and groupings. It numbers TDs and senators with scientific or technological backgrounds and in some cases party spokespersons on education and science.
Its membership includes: Seán Ardagh TD (FF) who holds a maths and physics degree; Dr Jerry Cowley (Ind) who is a medical doctor; Mr Seán Crowe TD (SF), his party's spokesman on education and science; Paul Gogarty TD (Green), also a spokesman on education and science; Denis Naughten TD (FG) who holds an industrial microbiology degree; Dr Mary Upton TD (Lab) who lectures in microbiology at UCD and taught Naughten; Senator Fergal Browne (FG), a computer teacher; Senator Don Lydon (FF), a professor of psychology; and Senator John Minihan (PD), a member of the Oireachtas education and science committee.
The group came together on foot of an initiative by the Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme, which is managed by Forfás on behalf of the Office of Science and Technology.
This in turn is based in Harney's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, hence her involvement. "The fact that scientifically qualified members of the Oireachtas have crossed party lines to work together in the interests of scientific and technological development underlines the importance of these issues to the development of the Irish economy and society," Ms Harney said at the launch.
Less clear at this stage is how this group is going to show its friendliness towards things scientific. It met on the day of the launch and will select a chair at its next meeting in January. An agenda and possible role will also be discussed at that time.
"It is not so much a lobby group as an influence group," says Seán Ardagh. "We would try to act as persuaders on behalf of science."
The surprising thing is that it will work independently of party affiliations. "It is cross-party support for the sciences, just working together as a group of TDs across party lines," says Ardagh. They will "try to develop an awareness of science and an awareness of its importance".
Seán Crowe stressed the education element. "It is an important step because of developments in the economy relating to advanced technology," he says. "We are going to need graduates going into that." He believes the group can work as a form of outreach to try and engender an interest in students. "To some extent it is going to be a lobby but it is about public awareness as well." It is an uphill battle, however. "A lot of it is down to a lack of equipment in the schools."
Mary Upton thinks the group should take a much more active role, lobbying in the Dáil and trying to influence Government policy. "We would be hoping to influence our own colleagues in the Dáil at a cross-party level and within our own parties to keep science on the agenda and to keep an awareness of the importance of science."
She plans to raise the possibility of pushing for a separate cabinet post with responsibility for science, rather than have this in the hands of Harney who, Upton believes, has too large a brief. "If we are serious about science and technology, let's make sure we have somebody there to drive it forward. As politicians we need to be involved in that and in the value for money aspects of it."
She also thinks the group should get out and visit the schools to become advocates for science. "I think we should engage with the teachers. The schools are very badly supported and we have been paying lip service to the need for investment."
The group will likely meet quarterly. It will not have the status of a formal Dáil committee but will be able to set its own agenda.