Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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17. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if consideration has been given to Ireland joining the European Southern Observatory; if there are plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37428/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Through Innovation 2020, the national strategy for research and innovation, the Government recognises that in order 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.

I can confirm that serious consideration has been given to Ireland joining the European Southern Observatory, as outlined below.

In Innovation 2020, Article 6.13, the Government gave a specific commitment to initiate negotiations with ESO on Ireland's membership options. The then Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English, wrote to the ESO in January 2016 to initiate the process. My department had significant engagement with the European Southern Observatory, at both official and Ministerial level, throughout 2016 and 2017.

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. Professor de Zeeuw visited my Department in September 2016 and met with senior officials. The Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development met with Professor de Zeeuw at the European Space Agency Ministerial Council last December.

Minister of State Halligan 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.

The information gathered during these engagements has provided my officials with a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits of membership. These benefits include participation in research in science and technology, opportunities for enterprise, creation of human capital/skills and promotion of STEM. However, while the potential benefits of membership of ESO are significant, the cost of membership is also significant.

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 funding envelope for research and innovation, as well as other Departmental projects, is finalised.