The Government has commissioned a review of Ireland's (lack of) participation in inter-Governmental research organisations, including the European Southern Observatory (ESO). The recommendations from this report will feed into the Government's new policy on science, which will be published in early summer.

The Irish astronomical community, including all the universities, unanimously support ESO as the number one priority to support our community of researchers, students and also the wider public who are interested in astronomy.

The Institute of Physics in Ireland have published a document outling the benefits that ESO membership would bring to Ireland which can be read at the following address: http://www.iopireland.org/publications/iopi/file_63462.pdf

In summary, membership of ESO would bring significant rewards to Ireland including:

1. Give Irish researchers guaranteed access to its facilities and allowing Ireland to compete at the highest international levels and to align its research strategies with those of Europe – thus optimising Ireland’s chances of success in Horizon 2020.

2. Give Irish businesses the chance to compete for multi-million euro contracts across a wide range of technologies including imaging, detectors, computing and microelectronics.

3. Give Irish students outstanding opportunities for training.

4. Greatly enhance public awareness and understanding of science across a range of disciplines.

Please urge the government to heed this advice and recommend membership of the European Southern Observatory.