Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason, in view of the Government's commitment to encouraging and promoting sciences throughout all aspects of Irish education, his Department has refused to apply for full membership status of the international organisation CERN; if, in view of the possibilities that membership of this organisation has for Irish students studying a range of sciences in this country and the fact that they are unable to obtain summer programme placements because Ireland is not a member of CERN, in Geneva, Switzerland, in which the world's largest particle physics laboratory is located, he will give a commitment to fully join this organisation as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9651/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (2006-2013) recognises the importance for Ireland in building its international collaborative networks in science and highlights the importance of making investments in a way that produces the greatest benefit to Ireland. Ireland is currently involved in various international programmes and initiatives including the European Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7), the European Space Agency, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EUREKA, the network for market orientated research and development and COST, European co-operation in the field of scientific and technical research.

However, I am cognisant of the need to keep under review developments and opportunities at international and European level and to ensure that our investments assist us to build a strong national research capacity that will attract and retain researchers. Consequently, at my request, the Advisory Science Council (ASC) has commenced a study in order to help elaborate a strategy for Ireland's international engagement in science, technology and innovation. The outcome of this study, which is expected to be completed this year, will help to guide decision making on the international research organisations in which Ireland should seek closer involvement. In this regard, it is important to appreciate that decisions about joining international organisations must take into consideration the opportunity costs involved and the capacity of the research community to derive and optimise benefits from such memberships.