Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
60. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to travel to CERN in Switzerland; and if she has given consideration to the State becoming a member of CERN. [38532/17]
View answerInnovation 2020, the national strategy for research and innovation, recognises that in order for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader, our research and innovation system must be open with strong international collaboration links. Membership of leading International Research Organisations is an important mechanism for facilitating this engagement. For this reason, the Government gave a specific commitment in Innovation 2020 to initiate negotiations with CERN on Ireland's membership options.
Discussions with CERN commenced in 2016 and senior officials from my department, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland visited CERN in Geneva in July 2016. The Director-General of CERN, Dr. Fabiola Gianotti, visited Dublin in October 2016 and met with the former Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. The information gathered during these engagements has provided my officials with a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits of membership of CERN. While these benefits are significant, the cost of membership is also significant. Therefore, the case for membership of CERN is being assessed in the context of other investment priorities.
The case for membership of CERN is being considered in the context of the Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan, which covers the period 2018-2021. The Mid-Term Review will be completed before the end of 2017 at which point I will be in a position to make a recommendation regarding Ireland's membership of CERN.
In view of the visit by my officials to CERN and the visit of the Director-General to Dublin, I have no plans to visit CERN in Geneva prior to the completion of the Review process.
