James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is certainly money well spent. I understand that CERN results in similar yields. When a country joins CERN as a member or on an associate membership basis money is returned by way of contracts. Once it joins a country can bid for contracts and tenders, as well as benefiting from the educational and research developments outside of the return on investment. I wanted to mention that issue as it will arise in the year ahead.

I have been talking to CERN about visiting it in the near future. I will speak to the clerk about that. Perhaps other members of the committee would be interested in that as well, and indeed the Minister. It is a very worthwhile organisation, and I hope it is on the agenda for the year ahead.