Chief Archaeologist's
Qualifications
Madam, - Your Environment Editor's comments on the
appointment and qualifications of Brian Duffy as my
Department's chief archaeologist are unfair and
unwarranted and rely openly on academic snobbery (Agenda,
December 5th.).
The opinions offered have been drawn largely from a legal
submission on one side of a pending court case - hardly
the basis for a balanced piece of journalism.
To attack a civil servant on this basis is not worthy of
Frank McDonald. Mr. Duffy's job is to lead and manage the
team of very able archaeologists working in the
Department. In that work, he enjoys the full confidence
of his team and superiors - as well as my support. Mr.
Duffy was appointed to his position because he had all
the necessary qualities for the job. It is wrong to
presume that academic awards should be the only or main
criterion on which appointments are made. Over the years,
many top public servants, businessmen and businesswomen,
and indeed journalists, who don't have PhDs after their
name have made a huge contribution to Irish life.
In a second article on the same page Mr. McDonald
attributes certain comments to the Northern Ireland
Environment Minister, Lord Rooker. What he fails to point
out to your readers was that Lord Rooker was responding
to comments made by Frank McDonald. Hardly a
dispassionate source of information!
- Yours, etc,
DICK ROCHE TD,
Minister for the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government,
Dáil Éireann,
Dublin 2.
© The Irish Times, 8th. December 2005.
