Government Chief Scientific Adviser (Ireland)
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The Irish Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) is an adviser on science and technology to the Government of Ireland. The role was created in 2004 and was to operate independently of government departments, but report to the Cabinet Committee on Science and Technology.
In 2004, Barry McSweeney was appointed as the first CSA.[1] Following a controversy about the awarding of his PhD, McSweeney resigned in November 2005.[2]
In January 2007, Patrick Cunningham was announced as the new CSA.[3] He served a five-year term and hosted the 2012 EuroScience Open Forum meeting in Dublin.[4]
In 2012, following the retirement of Cunningham, the separate office of CSA was abolished, and the role was given to Mark Ferguson, then director general of Science Foundation Ireland.[5] Ferguson was reappointed in 2017 for a further five years.[6] During this period, academics, politicians and others highlighted the limitations of having a non-independent science advisor.[7][8][9][10]
Following the announcement of Philip Nolan's upcoming appointment as director general of Science Foundation Ireland, Simon Harris announced that the CSA was to be reinstated as an independent role.[11][12]
In October 2024, Aoife McLysaght was appointed Government Science Advisor for the Republic of Ireland.[13] The role is now called the Government Science Advisor and operates within the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.[14] In addition, in February 2026, a National Science Advice Forum chaired by the Government Science Advisor was appointed by Minister James Lawless to act as a group with broad scientific expertise to advise the government.[15]
List of Government Chief Scientific Advisers
- Barry McSweeney (2004-2005)
- Patrick Cunningham (2007-2012)
- Mark Ferguson (2012-2022)
- Aoife McLysaght (2024-present)
References
- ↑ "Science adviser begins work this morning". www.irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 2004-09-01. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ "Govt adviser accepts new position". www.rte.ie. RTÉ. 2005-11-15. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ Ahlstrom, Dick (2007-07-19). "Finding a way past complex problems". www.irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ "Euroscience Open Forum". www.theccd.ie. Convention Centre Dublin. July 2012. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ McMahon, Áine (2012-10-27). "Government abolishes standalone Office of Chief Scientific Adviser". www.irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ "Professor Mark Ferguson reappointed as Director General of Science Foundation Ireland". www.sfi.ie. Science Foundation Ireland. 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ "Trinity College Research Committee" (PDF). www.tcd.ie. Trinity College Dublin. 2019-01-22. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ "Review of Ireland's Membership of International Research Organisations" (PDF). enterprise.gov.ie. Department of Enterprise. July 2015. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ "Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy". www.oireachtas.ie. Oreachtas. 2017-06-29. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ "Chief Scientific Advisor needs to be independent". www.ria.ie. Royal Irish Academy. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ O'Brien, Karl (2021-11-10). "Chief scientific adviser to be reinstated as standalone role". www.irishtimes.ie. Irish Times. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ Delaney, Maria (2021-10-01). "Chief Scientific Adviser's dual role should be separated 'to protect independence'". www.thejournal.ie. The Journal. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ↑ "Geneticist Aoife McLysaght appointed Government science adviser". Royal Irish Academy. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ↑ "Professor Aoife McLysaght". www.gov.ie. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 2025-01-07. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ↑ [hhttps://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-further-and-higher-education-research-innovation-and-science/press-releases/minister-lawless-appoints-first-members-of-new-national-science-advice-forum/ "Minister Lawless appoints first members of new National Science Advice Forum"]. www.gov.ie. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 2026-02-24. Retrieved 2026-03-02.