John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The ESO and CERN are leading international research collaborations in astrophysics and particle physics respectively, and we know there would be absolute benefits from membership. It would drive research excellence through collaboration on physics, which is a fundamental discipline that underpins other areas of science and technology. It is our intention to do what we can. As the Deputy can understand it would be difficult to gain membership this year given the capital outlay required, but the Government announced in budget 2018 that Ireland would join the ESO in 2018. CERN is mentioned in the national development plan, and I, along with Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, had an input into that. On the ESO, In January the negotiation teams met in Ireland, and I met both teams. A formal application to join the ESO will come before the council in October, I believe. I will keep the Deputy abreast of that.