Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for taking this matter. He will be aware that the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, was established in 1954 as an international collaboration to advance human knowledge. The latest estimate is that more than 16,000 scientists from more than 110 countries have been engaged in CERN's activities. It is the world's leading particle physics laboratory and is an incredible engineering and IT project.

During the entire Covid process we have learned about how international co-operation is crucial for us to be able to tackle some of the global challenges. It is unfortunate that Ireland is not a member of one of the world's leading scientific laboratories, if not the world's leading one. Malta and Ireland are the only members of the European Union that are neither members nor associate members. The Minister of State will be aware that in 2016 there were discussions on starting membership. In November 2019, the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment stated there should be immediate plans for us to become members of CERN. Ireland's foreign policy has always been based on international collaboration. We pride ourselves on working with other countries to be able to solve some of the world’s problems. This is what CERN has been doing.

Many people heard about the Higgs boson in 2012 and read in 2013 how CERN had won the Nobel prize for physics, but CERN is also responsible for things that make big differences in our daily lives. It was responsible for the Internet, good and bad as it is. CERN was ultimately responsible for touch screens.As a Minister of State in the Department of Health, Deputy Feighan will be aware that CERN was responsible for medical positron emission tomography, PET, scans, which allow for early detection of cancer, heart disease and brain disorders. The research that was done in CERN contributed to all of that.

There have been many reports and calls for Ireland to join CERN and yet it has not happened. I am asking for a clear timetable on Ireland's membership of CERN. For those involved in the scientific research community, it is important we send that message. It also sends a message about Ireland's fundamental belief that we want to contribute to solving global problems. We believe in science and understand the importance of scientific research. I hope the Minister of State will deliver at the very least a clear pathway for Ireland's associate membership. I hope we will enter into full membership of the organisation.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this issue. Innovation 2020, the national strategy for research and innovation, recognises that 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. It is particularly important for Ireland as a small county due to the resource-intensive nature of cutting-edge research.

For this reason, the Government gave a specific commitment in Innovation 2020 to initiate discussions with several international research organisations. Four organisations were identified, namely, CERN, the European Southern Observatory, ELIXIR and LOFAR, and membership of three of these organisations has been completed. Ireland continues its consideration of CERN membership. These organisations were identified on the basis of a 2015 study that reviewed the costs and benefits of Ireland's existing and potential independent research organisation memberships.

Under the National Development Plan 2018-2027, as part of Project Ireland 2040, the Government outlined its intention to review Ireland's membership of CERN. In November 2019, the cross-party report by the Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation recommended that negotiations start with CERN immediately with a view to Ireland becoming an associate member as soon as possible. This would generate opportunities not only for Irish enterprise but also for its research community.

While the benefits of CERN membership are recognised as significant, the cost is also significant and must be assessed in the context of other departmental and national investment priorities. Based on indications received from CERN, the eventual cost of Ireland's full membership at 2021 prices would be circa €13.4 million annually. To become a full member, a country must go through an obligatory associate membership in the pre-stage to membership phase for a minimum of two years and maximum of five years. In addition to the annual full membership cost there is a special contribution fee calculated as 1.25 times the cost of the full membership fee. Based on a cost of €13.5 million at 2021 prices, this would mean an amount of €16.8 million would be due on the day a state becomes a full member. There are, however, options for the payment of this special contribution. It may be paid over a defined period, possibly ten years, and 20% of this contribution may be paid via in-kind contributions. An associate membership fee of a minimum of €1.34 million per annum is also possible, based on 10% of full membership cost. An associate membership at a higher percentage of the full membership cost is also possible. In the case of associate membership, the return to Ireland would be capped at the same level as the amount invested.

I acknowledge there are a lot of numbers in my response. Following the establishment of the new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, under the Minister, Deputy Harris, CERN membership will be considered in the context of the programme for Government and competing national investment priorities. Ireland continues its consideration of full and associate CERN membership and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science remains in active regular contact with CERN officials regarding the membership options for Ireland and the associated costs.

The Senator wanted a clear timetable. He believes in science. I am not involved in the figures I have mentioned but I think, given we have joined the three organisations I mentioned, the Senator has made a compelling argument for consideration of joining CERN. There are a lot of figures here that raise competing arguments. I will not go so far as to say those numbers are working against the Senator.

Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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Listening to the reply that has been prepared for the Minister of State, I am reminded of the Oscar Wilde description of a cynic as somebody who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing. It is clear the Minister of State's response has been written by an accountant. It has not been written by somebody who appreciates the value of research. The Minister of State will appreciate, especially in the context of the battle against Covid-19, the importance of international collaboration in the area of research. I am not saying the figures the Minister of State has outlined are insignificant but there is considerable potential in terms of what Ireland can gain for its research community and what it can contribute. Ireland should be to the fore in contributing to the international scientific community. We have some wonderful researchers here.

I respect that there has been progress, but the issue I have is that we have been talking about this for the past decade. We indicated our intentions clearly in 2016. An Oireachtas committee recommended membership in 2019. I ask the Minister of State to please get on with it. Let us join CERN and allow Ireland's researchers to contribute at an international level to the scientific community.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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As the Senator knows, the reply I delivered is not from my Department. The Senator spoke about knowing the price of everything, but the relevant Department values research and international collaboration. We saw how important that is during the pandemic. Ireland, as a progressive country, should be able to take its place at the forefront of what is happening around the world. As I said, four organisations were identified, namely, CERN, the European Southern Observatory, ELIXIR and LOFAR, and membership of three of these organisations has been completed. Ireland is continuing its consideration of CERN membership. I suspect there are some difficulties regarding costs or something like that. I suspect negotiations are ongoing. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I think negotiations in terms of costs are ongoing. I will bear in mind the Senator's comments about Oscar Wilde's definition.

Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking all four Commencement matters, only one of which related to the Department of Health. All Senators appreciate his attendance and replies and the time he has spent with us. I thank Senators Malcolm Byrne, Ó Donnghaile, Ward and Keogan. I also thank the administrative staff and ushers for always being helpful during these sessions.