Minister Devins welcomes recruitment programme for European astronauts

Dr. Jimmy Devins T.D., Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, today (Thursday 15^th may 2008) welcomed the launch by the European Space Agency of an astronaut recruitment drive to attract Irish applicants hoping to take part in the human spaceflight missions of the 21^st century.

ESA is looking for applications across all 17 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and will select at least four astronauts to reinforce its Astronaut Corps in order to successfully accomplish its present and future programmes of space exploration.

Minister Devins met Gerhard Thiele, ESA astronaut and head of the European Astronaut Corps, together with ESA special advisor Leo Hennessy, who are in Dublin today to promote the recruitment drive. Leo, who is Irish, was involved in recruitment at ESA for many years and played a part in ESA's last astronaut selection.

“Ireland has been a committed Member State of the European Space Agency for many years. Through ESA projects, Irish high-tech companies and researchers have been able to participate in leading edge space-related developments and further develop our knowledge-based economy. I welcome this opportunity for

Irish men and women to apply for this challenging programme” Minister Devin said.

The Minister also met Leo Enright, chairman of Ireland Discover Science and Engineering programme which helped ESA with today’s Irish launch of the recruitment drive.

Ends/STI1