State may join research organisations

A consultation process is under way to help the Government decide whether the State should join a number of international research organisations.

The Republic has not joined some of the leading European-based research centres. Ireland is the only EU State, aside from Luxembourg, which has not joined CERN, the world's leading particle physics centre.

We do not participate in the European Southern Observatory or the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. The only such body we have joined is the European Space Agency (ESA), membership of which costs less than £1 million per year.

Governments have in the past rejected participation, claiming costs were too high and funds were not available. This is despite the opportunities for Irish firms to gain access to construction and development contracts after joining these bodies, as was the case with the ESA. It also gives researchers access to these international centres.

Invitations to join these three bodies plus the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility are now on the table but the Government has decided to establish a way to assess memberships.

Working on behalf of the Office of Science and Technology with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Forfas has embarked on a consultation process involving academics, civil servants and companies. Forfas has also brought in the Technology Policy and Assessment Centre at the US Georgia Institute of Technology, which has experience in this area.

A report is due by September, opening the way for the Government to join one or all of the four organisations currently before it. Participation will require legislation, however.

A report is expected by September outlining a method for future selection of memberships considered to be of value to the State.