Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Business Committee for selecting this debate and the Minister and Chief Whip for facilitating it. Ireland's forthcoming membership of CERN will not only provide new opportunities for Irish researchers, but also challenge the underlying ethos of research itself in this country. This funding of €2 million annually for CERN's research initiatives predominantly supports exploratory or "blue sky" research, an area where venturing into the unknown is essential and where failure is a critical component of the learning process. It is noteworthy that a mere 2% of investments in this type of science and technology research actually yield results. This move marks a significant departure from Ireland's traditional approach to funding scientific research, which has been primarily results-driven with a strong emphasis on generating tangible outcomes such as job creation. The involvement of Ireland in CERN is poised to reshape the perspective of the Irish Civil Service and politicians towards scientific research, recognising it as an incremental journey of discovery where today's efforts may only bear fruit decades later.

Participation in CERN offers Irish researchers, especially young researchers, the opportunity to hone a unique set of problem-solving skills, training people to solve problems we never knew existed up to this point. These skills are not only academically valuable but also crucial for addressing global challenges from climate change to geopolitical tensions. Moreover, Ireland's engagement with CERN extends beyond scientific advancement. It can also contribute to the organisation's founding principle of fostering co-operation between people in conflict. Drawing from Ireland's experience in the peace process, where science has served as a neutral ground for building new relationships, there is potential for CERN, in collaboration with Irish scientists, to apply its problem-solving ethos to the realm of peacebuilding.

In Ireland, we have leveraged science not only at the policy and political level, but also at the citizen level to identify challenges and then agree on a roadmap to address them. This approach has been instrumental in fostering new relationships across our island, utilising science as a neutral ground for building bridges of understanding and tolerance. My personal experiences as a Minister, particularly in the area of environmental policy, have shown that science transcends borders and beliefs, uniting us in our shared human experience, because regardless of where we live or worship, we all breathe the same air and drink the same water. CERN, through its engagement with Irish scientists, now has the opportunity to extend this culture of problem-solving to the sphere of peacebuilding. Science is the universal language and it offers a neutral platform for dialogue. It transcends borders and employs a methodical approach to establish concrete facts. This can pave the way for historically divided neighbours to initiate dialogue, potentially leading to a future where their grandchildren can play together.

Although seemingly different, peace and science are deeply connected. Peace allows science to thrive and, in return, science can lay the groundwork for lasting peace. In politics, evidence-based decision-making, informed by rigorous scientific research, ensures our policies are not just effective but also equitable and just.

With that at its core, I was honoured to co-chair the first formal Inter-Parliamentary Union-CERN science for peace school, held last December on the CERN campus in Geneva, where we focused on the concept of water. The principle behind the science for peace schools is to bring together members of parliaments, the decision-makers and future leaders, with the scientists, allowing them to leave their historical political baggage outside the door along with a closed mindset to new solutions. By fostering dialogue and creating a community of parliamentary experts, we are aiming to address global challenges under the impartial and evidence-based umbrella of science.

During my time at CERN, I worked with participants to help apply the tools of scientific method and problem-solving to the political and practical challenges of water shortage and supply issues, focusing primarily on two regions, namely, the Middle East and the Sahel region of west Africa. These are regions where water is both a lifeline and a potential source of conflict. Scientific collaboration can offer a beacon of hope, especially in what is happening in Gaza today. We are exploring not only how we can use technology to provide practical solutions to specific challenges but also how to use the tools of scientific engagement to build stronger relationships between neighbouring countries and their parliaments that have historically been distant.

The CERN campus was an ideal location to host this school not just due to the culture of openness and problem-solving, but also because, as I said earlier, the core purpose of the founding fathers of CERN was to foster co-operation between peoples in conflict while promoting a culture of problem-solving.

Sadly, this has become increasingly more important today in an ever more polarised political atmosphere, where solution-orientated policymaking is becoming a more peripheral aspect of decision making. It is becoming far too nationalistic. While I do not have any issue with pride in one’s country, there is sadly an ugly underside emerging, generating fear and suspicion of anyone who is different, let it be in outlook or origin.

Seeing first-hand that mix of outlook and origin at CERN, it was very evident that this was the cornerstone of their problem-solving culture. Through the broader political engagements that took place over the week of that school, it demonstrated how solution-orientated policy can be incorporated into the wider political process.

In conclusion, the path to peace, especially in regions marred by conflict, is challenging. But let the science for peace school mission serve as an inspiration, a testament to the power of unity, understanding and the unyielding pursuit of knowledge. Through the combined efforts of science and politics, through dialogue and collaboration, we can pave the way for a future where resources are shared, challenges are met with innovation and peace is lasting and profound. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

See this speech in context