Coalition backs McSweeney as move sparks anger

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.

Mr McSweeney, who obtained a PhD from a notorious degree mill in California, is to be moved sideways to a job as a research coordinator in the Department of Communications following five weeks of controversy over his qualifications.

However, Ms Harney conceded Mr McSweeney’s use of the title ‘Dr’ had brought his office into disrepute.

“It would be like somebody using an honorary doctorate - I actually have one myself. I would not dream of using it; it would not be appropriate. Sometimes people do, unfortunately,” she said.

Reacting to severe Dáil criticism from Green Party leader Trevor Sargent yesterday, Mr Ahern rejected suggestions Mr McSweeney should have been fired.

“If the name of the game is just to dump people on the street because of a bit of controversy, it will be a bad day for this country and one I do not like,” he said.

But Mr Sargent said many in the academic world were angry at the move.

“Many students and scientists are incandescent with rage given the difference in treatment between themselves, whereby they are obliged to earn their PhDs the hard way, and that given to Mr Barry McSweeney,” he said.

Mr Ahern rejected suggestions the new position, which has not been advertised, was a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“An examination of the strategic plan for science identified a need to have someone working in the areas of marine and energy.

“As Barry McSweeney is moving from his current post, it makes eminent sense to use his considerable expertise in this area,” he said.

Ms Harney yesterday defended her decision to appoint Mr McSweeney following a telephone call from former EU Commissioner Neil Kinnock. “There was never a requirement to have a doctorate for this job. If we were going on academic qualifications we would have been looking for somebody at professorship level,” she said.