Ninth Level Ireland

“A minister has said the Government’s chief scientific adviser (CSA) has no role in science policy and that to claim otherwise was a ‘lie’. In an online interview, since taken down, Seán Sherlock described as ‘a storm in an eggcup’ the outcry that followed the Government’s decision to appoint as its chief scientific adviser the man who also heads its science funding agency …” (more)

[Catherine Shanahan, Irish Examiner, 21 February]

“The role of the Chief Scientific Adviser has no mention of science policy and is potentially under-resourced as revealed by Freedom of Information documents accessed by ScienceCalling …” (more)

[Maria Delaney, Science Calling!, 19 February]

“Over the last few days, we have had the opportunity to hear Minister Sherlock’s interview on Science Calling (before the audio files were subsequently removed). In a petty tone, Sherlock delivered condescending answers to interviewer, Maria Delaney …” (more)

[Paul A Higgins, Love Irish Science, 19 February]

“Minister Séan Sherlock said there wasn’t a huge backlash over the abolition of the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser and added ‘it’s a non-issue’ in an interview with Science Calling …” (more)

[Maria Delaney, Science Calling!, 18 February]

“Value for money from investment in R&D is more important than ever, which is why the role of the Government’s chief scientific adviser is so vital, writes Research Minister Seán Sherlock …” (more)

[Irish Examiner, 9 January]

“Some 18 medical research charities have weighed into the controversy surrounding the Government’s decision to appoint as its chief scientific advisor the man who also heads up its science funding agency. The appointment of Professor Mark Ferguson, director general of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), to the additional role of government chief scientific advisor (CSA), has attracted widespread criticism from the scientific community …” (more)

[Catherine Shanahan, Irish Examiner, 27 December]

“With Ireland taking over the presidency of the EU, we are well positioned to target a good slice of the Horizon 2020 budget, but Irish scientists are expressing concern with the current approach …” (more)

[HT: Stephen Sullivan]
[James Fogarty, Medical Independent, 13 December]

“Sir, – The stated purpose of the role of chief scientific adviser to the government is ‘to provide the government with independent, expert advice on issues related to public science policy’. It was with dismay therefore, that we learned of the Government’s decision to undermine the independence of the chief scientific adviser role …” (more)

[Philip Watt and others, Irish Times, 12 December]

“In the last year, there has been a major shift in the government’s policy for supporting scientific research. Formerly, the emphasis was on research excellence in any field. Now the priority is for research to have commercial applications and to partner with industry …” (more)

[Paul Higgins & Neal O’Riain, Science Calling!, 29 November]

“It is too difficult to call the outcome of Budget 2013 for the Government’s science funding agency according to its Director General, Professor Mark Ferguson. A strong argument is needed to defend budgets in the current climate …” (more)

[Maria Delaney, Science Calling!, 28 November]

“Friday afternoon of a bank holiday weekend is perfect timing if you want to bury news. So it was that a press release was sent out from the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment on the cusp of the October bank holiday weekend, announcing the abolition of the stand alone post of chief scientific adviser …” (more)

[Michael Clifford, Irish Examiner, 26 November]

“I’m a little per­plexed by the dir­ec­tion of the cur­rent dis­cus­sion over Ireland’s chief sci­entific advisor. The need for sci­entific advice, as a driver of (and san­ity check upon) evidence-based policy form­a­tion, has argu­ably never been greater …” (more)

[simondobson.org, 17 November]

“The whole science funding debate is in the news again, sparked by the amalgamation of the positions of Government Science Advisor and Director of the SFI. There have been the usual responses from those working in pure research and some valid points have been made about the loss of high quality people …” (more)

[educationandstuff, 15 November]

“The decision of the government to get rid of the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser, and have that advice in the future come from Science Foundation Ireland, seems a decision that has little to do with logic …” (more)

[Dan Boyle, Broadsheet.ie, 14 November]

“The government has defended its decision to abolish the office of Chief Scientific Adviser. Rejecting criticism, it said the move would enhance the quality of advice available …” (video)

[RTÉ Six One News, 12 November]

“The Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation has defended the Government decision to abolish the office of Chief Scientific Advisor …” (video)

[RTÉ One News, 12 November]

“Mr Bruton said the decision to merge the functions of the office with that of the Director General of Science Foundation Ireland would lead to an improvement in the quality of scientific advice available to Government …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 12 November]

“The Government’s new emphasis on ‘impact’ has consequences for the quality of research projects. The Government has failed to put in place a clearly defined policy on research, one decoupled from budgets …” (more)

[Dick Ahlstrom, Irish Times, 12 November]

“In a move that has aroused exasperation and dismay among the country’s researchers, the Irish Government has abolished its chief science adviser office …” (more)

[HT: Dara O’Riordan]
[John Farrell, Forbes, 9 November]

“Researchers in Ireland, one of the European economies hit hardest by the recession, fear that they have lost a strong defender of science. When Ireland embraced austerity after the financial crisis struck in 2008, the country’s chief science adviser (CSA) helped to persuade the government to spare science …” (more)

[Declan Butler, Nature News & Comment, 7 November]