Labour seeks investigation of ‘degree mill’ universities

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.

The Government's chief science advisor, Barry McSweeney, was moved to a new civil service job earlier this month when it emerged that he had received his PhD from the Pacific Western University.

The US institution is known for selling such qualifications online.

The controversy surrounding the McSweeney issue prompted another official, Dr Con Power, to admit that his doctorate was also obtained from PWU.

Reports this morning said further examinations had found that Dr Mary McAteer, a senior academic at UCD, and Dr Cedric Chau, a lecturer at the Institute of Public Administration, had also secured their PhDs from the same university.

Labour TD Jan O'Sullivan said the latest revelations highlighted the need for an investigation to clarify whether these people were qualified to do their jobs.

"There's a lot of public disquiet and concern that there may be people with qualifications out there that are possibly in question," she said.

"I think we need clarity on this for the sake of the public and for the sake of people who have very good qualifications."