Dr Barry McSweeney, the Government's chief scientific adviser, was appointed following a request from Brussels the Tánaiste told the Last Word on Today FM yesterday.
Mary Harney said the Government was required via EU membership to take back one of four senior Irish officials who held A1 posts. She was telephoned by Neil Kinnock to say Dr McSweeney was the one willing to return and the science adviser job was available. "I think other ministers were contacted as well. Brian McSweeney headed up the European Research Centre which was responsible for a €1 billion budget. It was not a requirement to have a PhD to get that position. He was coming to the Government from a very serious post in Europe and the Government decided on his appointment."
Revelations about his US doctorate had damaged him and the scientific community here, she said, but he was a "very competent, intelligent and highly qualified person".
When asked about the controversy as he launched Science Week Ireland 2005 in Cork yesterday Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said it was damaging the office. But he had had discussions with Dr McSweeney on Wednesday and was due to meet him again.
"There's a lot to be taken on board here: the fact that he has a good track record in terms of the establishment of BioResearch Ireland and that he worked with Marie Curie Scholarships in the EU and the Directorate of Research in Europe," said Mr Martin.
At the launch Mr Martin said encouraging children to become interested in science in primary and secondary schools was essential to Government plans to double the number of postgraduates coming out of third-level institutes by 2014.
It was important children were encouraged to enjoy science so the supply lines into universities and institutes of technology were maintained at full capacity.
The Minister was given a demonstration of the launching of a homemade rocket by pupils from Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal in Blarney at the launch at Cork city's new interactive Lifetime Lab.