Government chief science adviser Barry McSweeney is to get another State job on equal pay, despite the controversy about his doctorate from an unrecognised US college. Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent, and Dick Ahlstrom, Science Editor report
Last night, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin announced that Dr McSweeney would become research co-ordinator for the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
Paying tribute to Dr McSweeney, Mr Martin said he had acted with "drive and enthusiasm" during his term as chief science adviser and had helped to forge links between research and development players.
The Cabinet decided two weeks ago that Dr McSweeney's position was untenable after the controversy caused by the disclosure that he had received a PhD from Pacific Western University, a so-called "diploma mill", showed no signs of abating.
Though Ministers realised Dr McSweeney would have to stand down, they also wanted to ensure another State job could be found for him because of his talents, The Irish Times was told last night.
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey agreed to accept him to head up his department's growing research budget, following meetings late last week.Though no agreement has yet been made about salary and conditions, it is understood that they will be comparable to the €102,000 a year Dr McSweeney was paid for the last year as chief science adviser.
In a statement which referred to "Barry McSweeney" and not "Dr McSweeney", Mr Martin thanked him "for his unstinting commitment and to wish him every success" in his new posting.
In his own statement, Dr McSweeney said he was "pleased" to move to his new job in Marine, where he would work on "energy, marine, ICT, digital and geoscience" issues.
Though he could not be reached for comment, sources close to Dr McSweeney said last night he was "happy that a solution has been found" to the situation". The former president of the University of Limerick, Dr Edward Walsh, who warned last week that the controversy threatened Ireland's international scientific reputation, said he was "very pleased that a difficult matter has been resolved.
"I have a very high regard for the talents of Barry. He has made a significant contribution to Ireland and the European Union. The challenge will be to find a person as capable," he said. No details were available last night about how quickly a replacement might be found for Dr McSweeney's post as chief science adviser, nor what selection process might be put in train to select his successor.
Complaining that questions are still outstanding about the Government's handling of events, Labour TD Jan O'Sullivan said Dr McSweeney's replacement should be recruited by open advertising.
Dr McSweeney, who then served as head of the EU's Joint Research Centre, was appointed by Tánaiste Mary Harney during her time in Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the recommendation of former British European commissioner Neil Kinnock.