Higher education minister Simon Harris has announced that government approval has been granted for Ireland to apply for membership of CERN.

CERN is the European Organisation for Nuclear Research and it is one of the world's largest and most respected centres for scientific research.

Following approval this morning, the minister will now write to CERN to formally apply for Irish associate membership. 

Application considered on December 14

The organisation is set to then consider the application on December 14.

Minister Harris said: “This is a development that has been, for decades, eagerly awaited by our Academic community and I would like to thank them for their assistance in bringing us to this milestone in Irish science and in preparing Ireland’s formal application.

“I am so pleased we have reached this milestone moment. CERN will consider the application in mid-December. I really want to thank my department officials for all of their work. We are on the cusp of something significant.”

Announcing the move, he outlined how membership of CERN can be expected to bring benefits to Ireland across research, industry, skills, science outreach, and international relations. 

"I am aware that this is a development that has been for decades eagerly awaited by our academic community, and I want to thank them for their assistance in bringing us this milestone today.

"My department will continue to work closely with CERN, in order to expedite the application process and we hope that Ireland’s membership can commence in late 2024. We will continue to work with the academic community to make the necessary preparations for the Irish researchers to participate effectively at CERN from day one of Irish membership.”

Membership will make Irish citizens eligible for staff positions and fellowships at CERN.

There are also opportunities for Ireland's schoolteachers to participate in training programmes at CERN, along with outreach activities to second-level students.

Access to research at the forefront of scientific developments

It will open doors for Ireland’s researchers to participate in CERN’s scientific programmes and ensure Irish researchers have access to research at the forefront of scientific developments. 

With CERN membership, Irish citizens will gain access to CERN’s formal training schemes.

These include masters and PhD programmes, apprenticeships, a graduate engineering training scheme, internships for computer scientists and engineers and technical training experience.

These skills will be developed far beyond what is currently possible in Ireland and are in industry-relevant areas such as electronics, photonics, materials, energy systems and software.

Budget 2024 included a provision to allow the application for CERN membership to proceed and any 2024 costs will come from within the envelope of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

The annual funding requirement of €1.9m for five years, commencing from 2025, will be agreed through the estimates process.