Madam, - Pat Close (July 2nd) draws attention to the fact that Ireland is not a member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).
While I would not agree with his description of the Government as "science-shy", given the very substantial funding which has been made available for research and development in recent years, its failure to join CERN is inexplicable and I believe, irresponsible.
On one level, it excludes Ireland from participation in the astonishingly high-level pure science research conducted by CERN, which is surely the sort of scientific exposure we need if we are serious about building a high technology future for the country.
On a more prosaic level, it also excludes Irish high-tech companies from bidding for the RD and associated contracts awarded every year by CERN to companies in member countries. The last time I looked, several years ago, these contracts had an annual value of some €600 million.
The doubtless unworthy thought has often occurred to me that the only reason for the Government's inaction is its fear of an uninformed negative reaction to the notion of joining an organisation with the word "nuclear" in its title.
If this is in fact the case, perhaps the Government is right, given its apparent inability to counter uninformed and distorted views, as demonstrated in the recent referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. - Yours, etc,
GERRY WATSON,
Lansdowne Park,
Dublin 4.