The Government's chief science adviser, Dr Barry McSweeney, has categorically denied he purchased his PhD qualification after questions were raised in the Dáil about the nature of the US institution that awarded it.
It has emerged that Dr McSweeney obtained his degree in the early 1990s from Pacific Western University, a Los Angeles-based institution that has been described in one official US government report as one of a number of "unaccredited institutions and diploma mills".
Diploma mills have been the subject of media and political investigations in the US amid concerns that people can gain qualifications for little course work or research.
In a statement last night, a spokeswoman for Dr McSweeney's office said he "absolutely refutes any allegation that he purchased a PhD".
"His PhD was based on substantial research and the development of an innovative biotechnology-based multi-research centre."
The centre referred to was BioResearch Ireland, a State body set up to promote the commercialisation of Irish biotechnology research carried out at Irish universities, and which Dr McSweeney headed in the 1990s.
The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Micheál Martin, has also sought details from Dr McSweeney about the PhD qualification in the wake of questions from Labour's Jan O'Sullivan and Fine Gael's Olwyn Enright, which followed reports in a Sunday newspaper.
It a response to Dáil questions from both TDs, Mr Martin said Dr McSweeney's appointment was not based or dependent on academic qualifications, but was made on the basis of his experience. Mr Martin told the deputies that the post "was filled on the basis of the availability of the individual concerned and his track record in the development of science policy and programmes at national and European level and, as such, was not the subject of advertisement or competition" .
"The nature of the position is such that no formal qualifications have been stipulated - the key criterion being a broad background in science, technology and innovation. The individual in question supplied a CV prior to appointment detailing his experience and academic background, including details of his qualifications and experience at graduate and postgraduate level - BSc, MSc and PhD."
Mr Martin added: "I have had a discussion with the individual concerned. I am in the process of examining the issues further."
A biochemist with a masters degree from Trinity College Dublin, Dr McSweeney was appointed to the newly-created post of chief science adviser last year.
Yesterday a representative of Pacific Western University told The Irish Times that the institution was recognised in 50 states in the US and more than 100 countries, and that it took a student two years on average to obtain a PhD, which was based on course work and research.
However, official records of a number of state education authorities, including those in Oregon and Michigan, explicitly identify the university as unaccredited, and state that its degrees are not recognised by the US government.
The university was also cited in a report by the US government's General Accounting Office, the US Congress's financial watchdog, which stated that the Pacific Western University was one of a number of institutions that award "academic credits based on life experience and require no classroom instruction".