Ninth Level Ireland

“The Government is increasingly under fire for how the nation lags its European counterparts in funding basic, ‘blue skies’ research, the kind in which real world applications are not immediately clear. During Science Week 2019, Fianna Fáil’s science spokesman James Lawless, stated it was ‘over-concentrating resources around applied-commercial research at the expense of basic/discovery research’ …” (more)

[Conor Purcell, Irish Times, 2 January]

“In the news here in Ireland this week is a new report from a Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas making the case for Ireland to join CERN. You can download the report here (PDF) and you’ll find this rather striking graphic …” (more)

[In the Dark, 16 November]

“Ireland should join Cern, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, if ambition to be a global leader in innovation is to be realised, the Oireachtas Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation has strongly recommended. Based outside Geneva in Switzerland, Cern is one of the world’s leading scientific laboratories. Its primary focus is on particle physics but it also plays a vital role in developing the technology of tomorrow …” (more)

[Kevin O’Sullivan, Irish Times, 14 November]

“The Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation is today recommending Ireland seek associate membership of CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, as soon as possible. (It is necessary to join as an associate member before a country can move towards full membership.) In its report launched today, The Case for Irish Membership of CERN, the Committee says that associate membership would bring scientific benefits and direct economic returns for Ireland …” (more)

[Houses of the Oireachtas, 13 November]

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Science, Technology, Research and Development, James Lawless has said that if Ireland is to be a real player in the international science community, membership of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) is key …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 12 November]

“Minister John Halligan has urged scientists to use the next general election to put pressure on politicians to commit to investing in research ahead of the ‘fourth industrial revolution’. Mr Halligan also spoke of how he wants Ireland join European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) …” (more)

[Cormac McQuinn, Independent, 19 August]

“Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated cost of associate membership and full membership of CERN; if membership has been considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 26 June]

“Ireland’s potential membership of CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, will be discussed on Tuesday, Oct 16, at the Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation …” (more)

[Houses of the Oireachtas, 11 October]

“Dr Alessandro Strumia is a physicist working at CERN, where he is Principal Investigator of an ERC Advanced research grant on the topic ‘Understanding the mass scales in nature’, ie, he spends your tax money on the kind of research that I criticize in my book. He also recently published an analysis of publication and citation-rates in his field …” (more)

[Sabine Hossenfelder, Backreaction, 5 October]

“Europe’s physics lab CERN has suspended a scientist over a lecture that suggested physics was ‘built by men’ and accused women of demanding specialist jobs without suitable qualifications …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 1 October]

“Ireland must apply for membership of the world-renowned European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) in order to combat the effect of Brexit and boost university rankings. That is according to Cork senator Colm Burke as the campaign to join Cern gains momentum, after Ireland recently became a member of the European Space Observatory …” (more)

[Pádraig Hoare, Irish Examiner, 29 September]

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Science, Technology, Research and Development James Lawless TD has called on the Government to begin the process of joining CERN. Deputy Lawless made the comments after meeting with CERN Professor Emmanuel Tsesmelis in Dublin earlier today …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 30 July]

“Actions speak louder than words. Despite all the parroting about the knowledge economy, Ireland remains outside the premier particle physics lab in the world, Cern; the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. The vast majority of EU countries are members of this scientific organisation, which asks the big questions such as, what is our universe made up of? …” (more)

[Anthony King, Irish Times, 14 June]

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Science, Technology, Research and Development James Lawless TD has called on the Government to commit to joining the European Organization for Nuclear Research and European Southern Observatory. Deputy Lawless pointed out that membership of these organisations offers enormous benefits to Ireland …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 4 October]

“With an increasing number of people and organisations joining the call for Ireland to become members of CERN, it is surprising how little enthusiasm has been shown by the government for membership of the illustrious group …” (more)

[University Times, 3 September]

“It is ‘high time’ Ireland joins the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern), a body representing science teachers in Ireland has said. The Irish Science Teachers Association (ISTA) said Ireland’s presence in Cern would allow researchers to achieve similar discoveries that had changed the face of science and medicine …” (more)

[Pádraig Hoare, Irish Examiner, 2 Setpember]

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Science, Technology, Research & Development James Lawless TD has urged Minister Francis Fitzgerald to accelerate the process of Ireland joining CERN. Membership of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) has major benefits for the research and development sector in Ireland yet no progress has been made by the Government in joining the organisation …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 22 August]

“There are growing calls for Ireland to join the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) in order to capitalise on €300m worth of commercial projects as well as encouraging more Irish students to enter the scientific field …” (more)

[Pádraig Hoare, Irish Examiner, 22 August]

“Sir, – Kevin O’Sullivan’s report on Senator Colm Burke’s discussion on the question of Ireland’s membership of Cern (European Organisation for Nuclear Research ) with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar reflects a campaign that has run for over five decades …” (more)

[Denis O’Sullivan, Irish Times, 19 August]

“Ireland is losing out on major research contracts by not being a member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Fine Gael Senator Colm Burke has claimed. CERN is the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. It operates particle accelerators including the famous Large Hadron Collider …” (more)

[Kevin O’Sullivan, Irish Times, 15 August]