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Did you know Ireland has a Minister for Space?

It’s this man.

IN LEO VARADKAR’S recent cabinet reshuffle, there was mention of all kinds of roles: Housing and Heritage, Planning and Public Expenditure.

But no mention of space.

Granted, Ireland doesn’t really have its own space programme to speak of, but space sector jobs are predicted to rise from around 2,500 to over 4,500 by 2020 and a major space event is currently taking place in Cork across the summer.

If it seems that having someone at least overseeing space would be a good idea, worry not. We already have one.

John Halligan, the Minister of State for Training and Skills, is that man. A press release for this week’s opening of the International Space University’s Space Studies Program in Cork City Hall described Halligan as the Minister with responsibility for space. But what does that entail?

A spokesperson for the Department of Education told TheJournal.ie that Halligan manages Ireland’s involvement with the European Space Agency.

According to Enterprise Ireland, Ireland’s membership of ESA permits Irish companies and research teams to bid for ESA contract development work in a range of space programmes.

Interest

For Halligan, the role takes up only a small portion of his portfolio, but is one he has a long-standing interest in.

He told TheJournal.ie this week:

“I have a life-long interest in space exploration and science, particularly the Irish research community’s role in this, from the manned Apollo 16 and 17 missions to the moon to the high-profile international space missions that Irish scientists have been involved with since then. So I was delighted when I learned that a responsibility of mine at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation would be Ireland’s participation n the European Space Agency.

“Ireland has been a member of ESA for over 40 years and the primary purpose of Ireland’s investment in ESA is to participate in European space technology and space mission programmes with a focus on facilitating innovative Irish companies and researchers to develop leading edge space technologies for commercial exploitation in the global space and non-space markets, leading to increased exports, sales and employment.”

Halligan last year attended the ESA ministerial council in Lucerne, overseeing budgets and long-term programme proposals.

“The impact of the Government’s investment in ESA is not always evident to the general public, but the figures speak for themselves: the number of Irish companies active in the space related activities has doubled from 30 to 60 in the period 2010 to 2016. This generates significant economic impact, particularly in terms of jobs, exports and new company formation.

“Irish companies working with ESA are growing in both numbers and scale. We are seeing a rapid increase in the level of entrepreneurial start-up companies working with ESA and ESA is playing a pivotal role in enabling these companies enter the global space and downstream services market.”

Halligan this week spoke at the opening of the International Space University’s Space Studies Programme in Cork, which runs across the summer.

Read: ‘I didn’t want to be known as the person who broke something on the Hubble telescope’

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69 Comments
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    Mute Brian Casey
    Favourite Brian Casey
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    Jun 5th 2014, 5:24 PM

    Ah The Ard Ri. Welcome to Waterford !

    102
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    Mute Shane Walsh
    Favourite Shane Walsh
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    Jun 5th 2014, 5:46 PM

    It’s a giant billboard now ain’t it?

    36
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    Mute Rob Cunningham
    Favourite Rob Cunningham
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    Jun 6th 2014, 12:30 AM

    The hotel industry along with other private businesses need to join forces to fight the extortionate rates and leases. Then you will be in a position to survive.

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    Mute Pedro deluvio
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    Jun 5th 2014, 7:02 PM

    Here’s why hotels in Ireland are doing shite!

    They’re over priced and have little to offer in standards, food or service!

    End of!

    87
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    Mute Mark D
    Favourite Mark D
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    Jun 5th 2014, 7:09 PM

    comments aren’t exactly accurate there.. Hotel industry has been growing steadily over the past 18 months and the Irish approach to customer service is famous worldwide.. No?

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    Mute El Pat Grande
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    Jun 5th 2014, 7:25 PM

    Somewhere in between I think.

    The Malton is one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in, end of.

    Stayed in the Gresham a couple of times and I’m not a fan. For those prices, you’d want better service.

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    Mute Pedro deluvio
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    Jun 5th 2014, 7:25 PM

    Mark D

    Couldn’t have said it better myself!

    CORRECTAMUNDO!

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    Mute King Olaf
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    Jun 5th 2014, 7:49 PM

    I travel between Ireland and elsewhere in Europe fairly often and the one thing tourist mention a lot negatively is specifically the oversold Irish welcome.

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    Mute Edmund Dantes
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    Jun 5th 2014, 7:46 PM

    I actually owned a Dublin Hotel for 10 years & I can tell you that there are many reasons why so many are in financial trouble.

    Many Hotels indeed are the creators of their own problems, however, you also have the enormous fall off in tourists from 2008 to 2012, the smoking ban, random breath testing, cheap booze in Supermarkets & Off-Licences, enormous fees for Late Licences, Excise Duty increases, Commercial Rates increases, Insurance Premium increases, high Water Rates, Energy price increases and so on all at the exact same time as Revenues were plumetting like a stone.

    Here’s a quick Economic analogy ! Think of it like a boxer in a ring ; if he gets hit with 1 big punch, he can probably get over it, 10 big punches over a long period of time, maybe he can survive it. BUT, he gets hits with 10 big punches one after another and he get’s knocked out. That’s what happened to the Hotel Industry !

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    Mute Thors Big Hammer
    Favourite Thors Big Hammer
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    Jun 5th 2014, 6:22 PM

    Offer good deals and people will come.

    49
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    Mute Jimmy Coughlan
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    Jun 5th 2014, 7:32 PM

    The day to day running costs of a hotel or restaurant.!!! Crazy money
    You can only offer a deal when your sure you can get people to spend in the hotel, but with the price of a pint and a glass of wine in dublin, it’s madness.

    34
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    Mute Pedro deluvio
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    Jun 5th 2014, 8:11 PM

    Hi jimmy
    I get what your saying, I’m in the trade 25 years.

    We also travelled for years around the country before we had kids and after.

    It’s negative staff, under kept rooms, bars and amenities, lack of sincere welcomes….and thanks for that matter!

    Usually underage staff that have not been trained to do what they’re doing… Managers included.

    And stiff prices! Our hospitality sector has had little development since before the tiger.
    Our hoteliers need to travel to America to see what can be done with it’s depleting customer base!
    Swiftly.
    There are answers!

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    Mute Patrick O' Donoghue
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    Jun 6th 2014, 1:32 PM

    Service in the industry has fallen well behind no basic training all theory the day of good morning please and thanks and is everything ok are gone

    5
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