Some of this year's high fliers at the ESAT BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS Dublin.
Rebecca Gray (13)
St Mary's College, Arklow
Do you think Ireland is a good place to live and work in? Would you like to stay? I'd like to stay in Ireland to study and work. I feel comfortable here.
Are you interested in pursuing a career in science? If not, what do you hope to do? I'd like to go to Trinity; maybe something science and environment related. I did my project on litter in rural areas. Litter is a huge problem in Ireland and no one is tackling it. Otherwise I'd do something creative or with animals.
Do you drink alcohol? I don't drink, well maybe a sip of wine with my parents. I don't agree with people going out and getting drunk. None of my friends smoke or drink.
Do you go to Mass or church regularly? I go to church quite regularly but not every week. God is important but not the only thing.
What political party do you think you will vote for when you reach 18? I will definitely vote in the future - if you're part of a country you should take part in things like that. I haven't a clue about which party; I'm not that interested just yet.
Colm Kerr (16)
Christian Brothers College, Cork
Do you think Ireland is a good place to live and work in? Would you like to stay? I like Ireland and I think the standard of living is good - not like it was in the '80s so I've never considered leaving.
Are you interested in pursuing a career in science? If not, what do you hope to do? I'd like to go to UCC. I've no ideas what to study, maybe medicine; the only difficulty is the points are very high. I think I'd like to be a GP.
Do you drink alcohol? I don't drink but if there was a crowd of us some would. Those who do probably go for anything they can get their hands on.
Do you go to Mass or church regularly? I go to Mass most Sundays because I sort of have to.
What political party do you think you will vote for when you reach 18? I will vote in the future but have no idea who for. It seems so boring and just an awful lot of bureaucracy. It doesn't appeal but I suppose I'll have to develop some sort of interest in it at some stage.
Shauna Daly (14)
Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore
Do you think Ireland is a good place to live and work in? Would you like to stay? Ireland's not a good place to live. There's a lot of drugs and people would kill you for what you have in your wallet. It's happening more and more. It does scare me. I'd like to go to New York or Los Angeles.
Are you interested in pursuing a career in science? If not, what do you hope to do? If I went to college I would like to study in America. I'm not interested in a career in science. I'd like law I think because American TV programmes make it seem exciting. Otherwise I'd like to be in the Army. If you have to go to war you just have to realise it's part of your job, besides which you wouldn't be on your own.
Do you drink alcohol? I don't drink apart from special occasions. On Christmas day I had a WKD; I liked it, it tasted like blue Mr Freeze. I wouldn't be a big fan of alcohol - a lot of people wreck themselves over it.
Do you go to Mass or church regularly? I go to Mass an average of once a month. I do believe and I'll get married in church.
What political party do you think you will vote for when you reach 18? When I'm the age to vote it'll depend what's happening in the country and who's doing what about it. I'd vote for the party that looks after homeless people.
Billy Roche (13)
St Mary's CBS, Enniscorthy
Do you think Ireland is a good place to live and work in? Would you like to stay? I'd like to go to college in Ireland because I've lived here all my life. When I finish college I'd like to travel to Australia, Egypt and America - not for good, maybe just for a year.
Are you interested in pursuing a career in science? If not, what do you hope to do? I'd probably go to UCD or one of the Dublin colleges. I'd more than likely study a subject related to science if not science directly. I like mostly electronics, physics and biology - human not plant.
Do you drink alcohol? I don't drink. I know some people who smoke but none that drink.
Do you go to Mass or church regularly? I go to Mass every Sunday. When I was a child I had to go but it has sort of become a routine now. It can be boring but it's nice to go and celebrate with everyone together for special occasions.
What political party do you think you will vote for when you reach 18? When I'm 18 I'll vote but I don't know what. Half my family vote Fianna Fáil and the other half vote Fine Gael so it would probably be one of those two.
Helen Downes (14)
Maynooth Post Primary
Do you think Ireland is a good place to live and work in? Would you like to stay? I don't think Ireland is a good place. It's a small country. Everything is really expensive and there's a lot of drugs going around - hash, weed and some people do E. I like the idea of Australia.
Are you interested in pursuing a career in science? If not, what do you hope to do? I have no interest in science although our project on nettles and dock leaves was fun to do. It was good craic. I'd like to do law at some college in Ireland where I have to move away from home - just to get a bit of independence really.
Do you drink alcohol? I don't drink alcohol but I know people who do. At the weekend they go out and meet up somewhere and get drunk.
Do you go to Mass or church regularly? I don't go to church or Mass. I'm disillusioned with the whole thing because of the paedophile priests.
What political party do you think you will vote for when you reach 18? I don't know if I'll vote and I couldn't care less about it. We never learn anything about politicians. If I do vote I'd get more information about it.
Jamie McGarry (15)
Sligo Grammar School
Do you think Ireland is a good place to live and work in? Would you like to stay? I'd like to go to Trinity to do legal science or law. I don't know if I want to stay in Ireland; I may go to New York because I think it's a cool city.
Are you interested in pursuing a career in science? If not, what do you hope to do? My science project was on the effects of water on the strength and durability of concrete. It was interesting but as I said I don't really want to go on and study science.
Do you drink alcohol? I don't drink myself but some of my friends do - things like Smirnoff Ice.
Do you go to Mass or church regularly? I go to Mass every week because I feel it's important.
What political party do you think you will vote for when you reach 18? I will vote when I'm 18. I'm not certain who for but probably Fianna Fáil because it's a family tradition and I think they seem best for the country.