Today we have a fantastic announcement from the higher Education Authority, HEA, on the extension of third level courses. A number of university courses have been shortlisted to progress to the next stage both in healthcare and in veterinary. We know that recruitment is a challenge particularly in regional areas. Recruiting GPs and experts in regional and rural areas has always been a challenge. We are seeing it more and more now. With these courses, graduate medical entry into the University of Galway, potentially graduate students will spend time in primary care networks throughout the west as well as in Saolta hospitals, including Portiuncula in Ballinasloe, University Hospital in Roscommon, Castlebar, Letterkenny and Sligo.

The HEA is also looking to deliver pharmacy courses in the west for the first time. It needs to happen. Veterinary courses in the Mountbellew campus of the new Atlantic Technological University, ATU, will expand and develop world-class research in Mountbellew. It is the only agricultural college in the west of Ireland. We have world-class third level teaching and research.

I welcome Professor Martin O'Halloran, who is in the Visitors Gallery. Professor O'Halloran leads the BioInnovate programme at the University of Galway. He has been awarded a European Research Centre, ERC, proof of concept grant. He runs multidisciplinary research teams. I went to the BioInnovate symposium last week, a programme of needs-led innovation using bio design methods that has entrepreneurs and researchers working together to identify needs and make patients' lives better. What does success look like for BioInnovate? It has 81 fellows, 120 industry trade, 22 seed fund projects, €10.5 million in Enterprise Ireland commercialisation funding, 11 spin-out companies, €29 million raised in seed and series A funding, and €48.5 million in exits. These companies are making a difference to people's lives and this programme is highly successful. I was very fortunate to work with Professor O'Halloran in the health innovation hub before I joined this world, working with entrepreneurs, startups and healthcare teams with fantastic ideas across the Saolta hospital network. We have excellence in teaching and research. Professor O'Halloran who is here today is testament to that.

We welcome Professor O'Halloran and we thank him for his work and leadership.

I rise today to congratulate the Government for a change on the forum put together by the Tánaiste, which starts in UCC tomorrow. I presume the Cathaoirleach will be there.

I will be here.

What a pity. It moves on to Galway and then has two days in Dublin. This forum has finally put the question of neutrality on the public agenda and the public are speaking about neutrality. One of the great problems I have is that many people in this House speak about a neutrality that does not exist and that has never been enshrined in either law or the Constitution. By the way, I would be opposed to enshrining it in the Constitution. There have been allegations that people like me and Deputy Berry are mad to get the country into NATO. I wish to state today publicly that I have no desire to see Ireland become a member of NATO. There is nothing in NATO for Ireland.

I have no difficulty with co-operation on peace projects or on cyber projects but I do not want to see our men and women serve in a NATO armed force unless it has peace at its heart, like what happened in the Balkans. We need to have this open and honest conversation but we cannot talk about neutrality when we are depending on other countries to protect our skies or our sea. Let us have an open and honest conversation about how we actually make Ireland neutral and how we make it a safe country for all. I want to put that on the record.

Once again, I congratulate the Taoiseach for coming out and saying this country will not be joining NATO, and the Tánaiste for putting together this forum. Let us see what comes out of this forum, let the conversation begin but let us have an open and honest one. I thank the Cathaoirleach.