Education is central to any progress in society, and it is skills not tax regimes that attract foreign investment to Ireland, according to former European Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness.
She was speaking at a lecture in the MTU to honour its former President Dr Sean Mc Bride.
Ms McGuinness said that progress is not a given and that far reaching decisions are being taken in the US such as the shutting down of the Dept of Education. She said that this includes funding cuts for research and the rejecting of GEDI policies.
This could be an opportunity for the EU to give a home to great minds according to Ms Mc Guinness.
She said that nothing liberating will come from a trade war and that the poorest countries in the world will suffer most. She described any potential threat to the pharmaceutical chain as immoral.
Ms Mc Guinness said that Ireland and other EU countries must respond calmly and collectively.
She said that in order to bring about change you must listen to others with respect and use words wisely.
Ms Mc Guinness said that the EU must focus on competitiveness and improve financing and that it is a time for cool heads, and strong leadership where morals and ethics matter.
Dr Mc Bride was praised for being a visionary who had overseen the development of the former Tralee RTC from a campus of 300 students to over 3,000 and had been ahead of others in seeing the importance of links to business on the campus and with Kerry Innovation Centre.
