Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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189. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated cost of Ireland becoming an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, CERN, and a full member of CERN, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29893/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Innovation 2020, the national strategy for research and innovation, 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. For this reason, the Government gave a specific commitment in Innovation 2020 to initiate negotiations with CERN on Ireland's membership options.

Discussions with CERN commenced in 2016 and senior officials from my department, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland visited CERN in Geneva in July 2016. The Director-General of CERN, Dr Fabiola Gianotti, visited Dublin in October 2016 and met with the former Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. The information gathered during these engagements has provided my officials with a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits of membership of CERN. While these benefits are significant, the cost of membership is also significant. Therefore, the case for membership of CERN must be assessed in the context of other investment priorities.

From the most recent correspondence with CERN, the annual contribution for an Associate Member State is subject to bilateral agreement and is a minimum of 10% of the theoretical (full) Member State contribution. The formula used is based upon the State's Net National Income (NNI). CERN estimate that the minimum annual contribution for Ireland as an Associate Member State would be 1.5 Million Swiss Francs, or approx. €1.3 million at current exchange rates. Previous indications from CERN have suggested that full membership could amount to approximately €15 million per annum.

My Department continues to keep the position in relation to CERN membership, and its cost under review, and maintains contact with officials in CERN in relation to Ireland's potential membership.