Madam, - While there is much to criticise about the rapid development of Ireland's economy and, in particular, how it has been managed by the Government, the recent prosperity has brought immense benefit to Ireland and not just in economic terms. For example, people generally fail to appreciate how significant it was that the Government, as a party to the political agreement in Northern Ireland, was negotiating from a position of such economic strength. This was a vital factor in achieving political agreement between the polarised parties in Northern Ireland.
As Garret FitzGerald intimated in his column of July 21st, the phenomenon of the Celtic Tiger has generated interest worldwide. Governments in Eastern Europe and their advisers look to Ireland as a role model. Yet there is a concern, to which Dr FitzGerald also referred, as to the prosperity being sustained into the future and rendered secure.
The first factor that he identified as important to the genesis of the Celtic Tiger was the massive influx in the 1990s of almost 300 high-tech companies into Ireland, providing the country with a dynamic industrial sector based on high levels of productivity. However, an important factor in this, which Dr FitzGerald didn't mention, was the very large number of young Irish people with training and education in science and engineering. When Irish third-level education was expanded in the 1970s and 1980s, there was large investment in teaching and research in the pure and applied sciences in the universities and the new institutions which opened. By the early 1990s there was a large pool of highly qualified labour with scientific qualifications. This was an incentive for high-tech companies worldwide to locate in Ireland.
Sadly the dynamic to produce scientists and engineers seems to have weakened considerably in the past decade. Fewer third-level students are studying pure and applied science and more are studying subjects such as business studies, marketing and accountancy. While there will certainly be jobs in the foreseeable future for graduates in these subjects, the move away from science is regrettable for Ireland's long-term economic future.
The danger is that Ireland will become a largely service-based economy with much of its labour force in poorly-paid jobs. And, contrary to what many who voted to return the Government in the recent election may think, the building boom will not last forever. The alternative is a high wage, high-tech economy. For this to be achieved the first requirement is a renewed and reinvigorated science education sector.
In a letter on the day previous to Dr FitzGerald's column Pat Montague wrote that speakers at a Labour Party conference in Galway recently made the case that the model for the future development of Ireland's economy should be the Scandinavian countries. Finland is an example of a country with a vibrant high-wage, high-productivity industrial sector based on high-tech products. Finland has enjoyed economic prosperity for much longer than Ireland and its prosperity is more secure.
Ireland must therefore encourage more young people to study science. While much was done in the past to develop a strong science education sector at third level, the situation at secondary level was never good. Most secondary schools in Ireland have poor science facilities. The syllabuses are old-fashioned and fail to motivate children towards careers in science. There is a lack of emphasis on the development of practical skills. A renewal of science education in Ireland should start at secondary level.
Dr FitzGerald's grim prediction that "our substantial margin of advantage vis-à-vis our European neighbours will henceforth contract rapidly and substantially" need not be the case. Economic prosperity, properly managed and guided by an appropriate vision, can be sustained into the foreseeable future. - Yours, etc,
FRANK FALLS, Baldham, Bavaria, Germany.