Professor Peter Clinch:

As I understand it, as the Chairman hinted, it is a matter for the Minister and the Department as to whether we join CERN rather than for the SFI itself. I know, as has been made clear to me, that any of the cases made have to have a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether the money is being spent appropriately and if it is value for money for Ireland to spend on membership of CERN. There is certainly no doubt that if it was free, it certainly would be advantageous for us to join, but it is reasonable to do an analysis on it. As I understand where it sits, we have associate membership of CERN and it is under review as to whether we join. Certainly it would be advantageous but it depends on the analysis of the numbers.