McSweeney under pressure to resign over PhD controversy

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.

With senior Cabinet figures expressing serious concern yesterday, Dr McSweeney himself declined to comment.

However, his position has been seriously undermined by former University of Limerick president and Science Council chairman Dr Ed Walsh, who said the scandal was threatening to embarrass and setback Ireland's entire scientific reputation.