Ministers welcome increased science co-operation

A new agreement between Northern Ireland, the rest of the UK and the Irish Republic will improve cooperation on geoscience.

The agreement is set to improve services in areas such as water supply, infrastructure development, mineral exploration and tourism.

There has been strengthening cooperation between the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) and the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) in recent years. This has now culminated in the signature of an agreement between GSNI, GSI and the British Geological Survey (BGS) which will enhance scientific co-operation. Staff will now be able to share expertise with each other and provide more efficient services.

Welcoming the agreement, Energy Minister Nigel Dodds said: “This agreement will bring about stronger scientific collaboration, which will benefit communities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. I particularly welcome the involvement of the British Geological Survey, which should ensure better three-way cooperation.

“The geoscience sector has significant growth potential and could provide new opportunities for knowledge-based enterprises. Next year is the International Year of Planet Earth, which will be an important opportunity for geologists to showcase the value of their work.”

Minister Eamon Ryan, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the Irish Republic said: “There have been significant positive steps in the geoscience sector since it published its National Geoscience Programme (2007 – 2013) earlier this year.

“The Griffith Geoscience Research Awards have been implemented as one of a series of research initiatives by my Department. This award scheme is designed to increase research capacity at third level institutes. Under the Griffith Awards, nine contracts, with an aggregate value of €9.2 million, have been issued to universities on both sides of the border.

“GSI is now making its databases available free of charge and in digital format online, which is expected to lead to increased use of this important data and to facilitate the creation of new enterprises based on them.”

Both Ministers agreed that there were still opportunities to gain maximum benefit from investment in geoscience. They also acknowledged the supportive role which the Royal Irish Academy had played in the development of the sector in recent years and agreed that the Academy will play an important role in a seminar planned for next spring, by setting the geoscience priorities for the remaining period of the National Development Plan.

Notes to Editors:

1. The geoscience sector serves a range of extractive industries, such as zinc and salt mining, aggregates quarrying and offshore gas production. It also provides services for the water, construction and exploration sectors, as well as research and education for energy, environment, infrastructure and marine projects. GSI and GSNI are leading public sector bodies in the sector.
2. GSI is the national geological agency, charged with providing information and advice of relevance to Ireland. It managed the Irish National Seabed Survey (1999-2005) and more recently has jointly managed the nearshore INFOMAR Programme along with the Marine Institute. For additional information see www.gsi.ie
3. GSNI recently completed the Tellus project, which revealed a wealth of new information about the natural resources of Northern Ireland, including platinum, gold, sand, gravel and gas. The geological data generated from the project will help to develop Northern Ireland’s economy.
4. For further information please contact Mr Garth Earls, GSNI, 028 9038 8462 or Dr Peadar Mc Ardle, 087 226 2519.
5. For media enquiries please contact the DETI Press Office on 028 9052 9297.
6. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.