Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if funding will be provided for Ireland to join CERN in order that businesses, scientists, researchers and students here can benefit from the advanced scientific research taking place there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50486/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Ireland is in discussions with CERN regarding our potential membership, in particular in relation to the relevant costs and benefits of associate membership as distinct from full membership. In July 2018, I and officials from the Department met with the Head of Associate Member and Non-Member State Relations of CERN to further discuss Ireland’s potential membership of CERN, and the different types of membership and accompanying costs and benefits.

The information gathered during this and previous engagements has provided Departmental officials with a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits of membership of CERN. While these benefits are recognised as significant, the cost is also significant and must be assessed in the context of other Departmental and national investment priorities.

No funding is available in current budget projections for membership in 2019, but due consideration is being given to membership in line with the Department's policy. 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 discussions with a number of international research organisations. In particular, four organisations – CERN, the European Southern Observatory, ELIXIR and LOFAR - were identified and I am pleased to confirm that membership of three of these organisations has been completed.

The 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.