Address by Mr Noel Treacy T.D. Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce at the Press Conference to Announce the Programme of events for Galway’s Science and Technology Festival 2000 on Monday 2nd October, 2000 at 5.30pm in Boston Scientific, Ballybrit, Galway.

It is my particular pleasure to join you today, at this Press Conference to announce details of the 3rd Galway Regional and Technology Festival. This Festival takes place from 15th to 22nd of this month of October; with a varied and interesting programme of events.

One of my major objectives, as Minister for Science and Technology is to promote greater public appreciation of Science and Technology and of the role that they play in every aspect of our daily lives.

This is important, because we live in an era of constant change - change that is driven by accelerating advances in Science and Technology. This poses challenges for us as a society, to increase our Scientific and Technological literacy, so that we can be comfortable with, adapt to and benefit from these changes. It also poses challenges for us as an economy because, as our industries operate in an increasingly technological environment, we need to encourage more young people in particular, to study Scientific and Technological Subjects, so that they will acquire the high level skills necessary, to underpin our international competitiveness.

This implies making Science and Technology more attractive to all of our citizens, and in particular to our young people. We need to demystify Science and Technology and to demonstrate that they are relevant, interesting and fun.

For these reasons, I have long been an advocate of the benefits of activities and events, that promote a greater appreciation of Science and Technology, such as the Galway Regional Festival, which we are announcing here today. Such events provide a forum that allows Scientists and Technologists, whether employed in the academic, public sector or the business worlds to share the excitement of their work with the public.

Many of you here today, may be familiar with some of the national initiatives to promote S&T awareness. These have been successful, but I have always been convinced that there was a role for the Regions, in stimulating awareness at a more local level.

With this in mind, in 1998, I invited representatives from both the Private and Public Sectors in Galway, to join forces to establish the Galway Science and Technology Festival. They rose admirably to the challenge and in November of 1998, Galway hosted Ireland’s first Regional Science Festival. This had the dual aims of both generating S&T awareness and also promoting the Galway Region generally and enhancing its profile, as a leading Centre of Scientific and Technological Development, in this Country.

Public response to the Festival surpassed all expectations and last year’s Festival built on this, attracting an even larger audience. I anticipate that this year’s Festival will build on previous successes and ensure that the Galway Festival takes its place on the calendar of renowned international S&T Festivals, such as the Edinburgh Festival.

Before outlining details of specific events, I would like to congratulate the Festival Committee for their vision and dedication, to ensuring this Festival grows in strength, from year to year.

I also want to thank the Principal Sponsor, Boston Scientific; whose generosity has made all of this possible. They are considered to be one of the best Employers, in the West. They also have a sense of public duty to the long list of accolades paid to them, by many People since their establishment here in Galway. I would also like to mention the other Sponsors, without whose help this Festival could not take place, namely:

Allied Irish Banks, Bus Eireann Galway Corporation ADC Telecommunications, and the City and County Enterprise Board, under the direction of my good friend, Mr. Charles Lynch, CEO.

Finally, I want to thank the media, whose increased coverage of S&T is playing a pivotal role, in bringing complex issues to the public, in language accessible to the layman.

The events this year are not all centred in Galway City. Driven by the desire to bring Science and Technology to All, the Organisers are bringing the Festival east to Gort, Loughrea and Athenry, north to Tuam and west to Clifden.

The Programme of Events is available here, for you to peruse this evening. As you can see there is a wide variety of activities taking place. I am sure that everyone should find an event, which suits their taste. One, that I am particularly looking forward to, is the lecture that Mr. Mark Bailey of the Armagh Observatory, will deliver on Friday 20th October, as I personally find Astronomy very fascinating.

The principal message of this Festival is that Science is enjoyable. If more members of the Public find this to be the case, then perhaps, they will consider a Career, in this exciting and developing Sector of our growing National Economy.