Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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248. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); her views on whether membership of the ESO, European Southern Observatory, is material to Ireland's interests in the drive to ensure Ireland’s position in the global knowledge economy; her further views on whether Irish membership of the ESO would bring significant rewards to Ireland including giving Irish researchers guaranteed access to advanced facilities and allowing Ireland to participate at the highest international level of research in the area; if her attention has been further drawn to the current time limited offer from the ESO, shortly due to expire, of a reduced rate joining fee, with the potential to spread this fee out over a number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15946/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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My Department is aware of The Case for Irish Membership of the European Space Observatory prepared by the Institutes of Physics in Ireland in June 2014.

In December 2015, the Government launched Innovation 2020, the national strategy for science and research.  The vision in Innovation 2020 is for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader driving a strong sustainable economy and a better society.  Key to this vision is supporting excellent science, nurturing talent and delivering impact.

Innovation 2020 recognises that membership of International Research Organisations is an important strategic aspect of Ireland’s international collaboration in science, technology and innovation. 

The Government gave a specific commitment to initiate negotiations with the European Southern Observatory (ESO) for Ireland's membership options in Innovation 2020. 

The ESO is the pre-eminent intergovernmental science and technology organisation in astronomy and it is acknowledged that the benefits of Irish membership in the ESO would include:

- Irish researchers being guaranteed access to its facilities;

- Irish businesses being able to compete for contracts to develop and supply products and services to the ESO;  

- A number of training and collaboration opportunities for students and researchers within the Irish astrophysics community; and

- The further promotion of Science Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects through the ESO’s very active outreach programmes.

There has been significant engagement between my Department and the ESO.

The then Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English wrote to the ESO in January 2016 to commence negotiations.

Following this, my officials commenced discussions with ESO to explore the full range of potential benefits for Ireland of membership, as well as the cost of membership.  A delegation of senior officials from my Department, Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland visited ESO headquarters in July 2016 when they met with the Director General of the ESO, Professor Tim de Zeeuw and his senior management team.

As part of the on-going negotiation process, Professor de Zeeuw visited my Department in September 2016 and met with senior officials. 

The Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation met with Professor de Zeeuw at the European Space Agency Ministerial Council last December.

Minister Halligan has also met with representatives of the Irish astronomy community in March 2017 to hear first-hand of their research activities and of their interests in joining ESO.

In order to arrive at a decision on joining ESO, we must weigh the benefits of membership against the costs, which are not insignificant.  My Department is aware of the current offer from ESO.  The case for membership must be considered in the light of other research and innovation priorities and our priority is to ensure that we obtain the best overall return on our investment in this area.

My Department is currently engaged in discussions on the Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan. There will be more clarity on the Department’s position on ESO when the review is concluded and the potential funding envelope for this and other Departmental projects is finalised.