Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 735: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a PhD in a scientific field is a degree obtained by research; her Department's views on whether it is academic fraud for applicants for positions which require a PhD to rely on degrees purchased on the basis of life experience or other academically invalid criteria from bodies without academic campuses, qualified faculty members or three-year degree programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29111/05]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 736: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the existence of diploma mills claiming to be universities which issue bogus degrees, including doctoral degrees, on the basis of life experience or other academically invalid criteria; if so, the steps she has taken to ensure no person claiming a degree from such a bogus university is permitted to rely on such a degree for the purposes of any job application in the public or private sectors; if she will introduce legislation to ensure claimed foreign degrees may be validated for use in the State on grounds of academic credibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29112/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 735 and 736 together.

The question of assessing the relevance and status of qualifications for any post is a matter for the employer in each case, irrespective of whether it is in the public or private sector. However, I am aware that a number of companies registered in Ireland are using the title "university" in contravention of section 52 of the Universities Act 1997. My Department is pursuing such organisations with a view to restraining them from using this title and securing compliance with the legislation.