The role was created in 2004 and was to operate independently of government departments, but report to Cabinet Committee on Science and Technology.
[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.
[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.