The Labour Party has called for an investigation into so-called ‘degree mill’ universities following revelations that a number of Irish officials and academics have questionable qualifications.

AS further prominent Irish holders of dodgy degrees are outed, the time has come for Education Minister Mary Hanafin to launch an in-depth probe into the realm of questionable qualifications which offer the purchasers academic kudos overnight.

A SENIOR UCD academic and a lecturer in the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) both obtained PhDs from the same unaccredited institution as disgraced Government science adviser Barry McSweeney.

A SENIOR editor once said to me: “Do you know, I have no qualifications?” I have all the degrees I could get in my field, but only a person who does not have them thinks they are so important.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and Tánaiste Mary Harney came to the defence of ousted Government chief science adviser Barry McSweeney yesterday amid mounting criticism of the decision to move him sideways to a new position.

GREEN leader Trevor Sargent yesterday called for an audit of the qualifications of all Government appointees as the controversy over science adviser Barry McSweeney continues.

Barry McSweeney is a very able performer. The Irish Examiner has never questioned his ability, but it has questioned the manner in which he was initially appointed as the Government’s chief science adviser without the job ever being advertised.

The Tánaiste, Mary Harney, has defended the Government's handling of the controversy surrounding the appointment of Barry McSweeney as its official scientific adviser.

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin’s announcement on behalf of the Government raises even more questions than it answers.

BY dropping his two-letter title and moving the embattled chief science adviser swiftly sideways last night, the Government attempted to dodge mounting criticism over his dubious academic credentials.

The Government is transferring its Chief Science Advisor to a new position in light of a controversy that he obtained a bogus degree from an online US university.

EMBATTLED Government chief science adviser Dr Barry McSweeney is continuing to resist calls for his resignation in advance of another meeting with Enterprise Minister Micheal Martin this week.

GOVERNMENT chief scientific adviser Dr Barry McSweeney is under intense pressure to step aside this weekend as controversy surrounding a dubious PhD he received in the US continues.

CONTINUED controversy over the Government’s chief scientific adviser, Dr Barry McSweeney, will be an embarrassing setback for the entire scientific community, one of Ireland’s most respected academics has said.

ACADEMICS on both sides of the Atlantic are now openly calling for the resignation of Government chief science advisor Dr Barry McSweeney, who is embroiled in continuing controversy over the origins of a doctorate he received in America.

Fresh questions have been raised as a result of a probe by the Department of Enterprise into the status of the American doctoral degree obtained by the Government’s Chief Science Adviser, Dr Barry McSweeney.

GOVERNMENT chief science advisor Dr Barry McSweeney will this week face further questions over a dubious PhD he received from a discredited university in the US.

A SENIOR US academic and an FBI consultant have separately rubbished claims by the Government’s chief science adviser that a renowned US degree mill was legitimate when he received a PhD there.

WITH his €120,000-a-year job on the line, pressure is mounting on the Government’s chief scientific adviser to publicly explain a dubious PhD he received in America.

A DEPARTMENT of Enterprise probe has raised fresh questions about the status of a PhD received in America by the Government’s top scientific adviser.

THE country’s chief science adviser has appealed to students not to abandon science subjects in the wake of last week’s disappointing Leaving Cert results in physics, chemistry, biology and maths.

A POLITICAL decision must be taken to reintroduce college fees if Government plans for equal access are to be achieved, an education expert said yesterday.

ENTERPRISE Minister Micheál Martin has commissioned two major reports to help realise Government targets for private and public investment in research.

THE Enterprise Strategy Group report due out tomorrow will stress the need to develop the economy’s strengths.

Ryanair and bmibaby intend to challenge easyJet’s dominance at Gatwick Airport. Ryanair has so far been restricted at London’s second biggest airport due to high landing charges.

THE Government’s new chief science adviser is Dr Barry McSweeney who has been appointed in a drive to maximise the potential of Ireland’s multi- billion euro science and technology sector.

The Government has appointed Dr Barry McSweeney as Ireland's first chief science adviser.

IRISH children are the second biggest asthma sufferers in the EU, with only the UK reporting more cases.

IRISHMAN Dr Barry McSweeney who heads up Europe’s major research centre has been honoured for his work in opening up the institution to the new EU countries.

NOTHING short of a wind blowing through smoky bars or restaurants would clear the air, a damning report on the effects of smoking indoors has found.

REVOLUTIONARY new methods of testing chemicals for their safety will dramatically reduce the use of animals and cut the cost of Europe’s new chemicals plan.

INCREASED ventilation has little effect on reducing the effect on smoking in bars and restaurants, according to an EU study.