Leading economist for Westport seminar

Leading economist to deliver free evening seminar in Westport


Ciara Galvin

ONE of Ireland’s pre-eminent economists and financial experts will be giving a pre-budget talk in Westport next month.
Westport Chamber of Commerce and Michael F Cleary, Chartered Accountants, Westport, have teamed up to organise the evening in the Castlecourt Hotel on Friday, September 12, during which Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), Dan O’Brien, will give his learned opinion on the current state of the European and Irish economies, the future outlook and the challenges currently facing businesses and governments across the EU.
This will be a free to attend event, and with Budget 2014 looming several weeks afterwards, and a question and answers session planned, this talk should not be missed by anyone with an interest in business and finance, or the general condition of the economy.
Dan O’Brien comes to Westport with considerable experience and a glittering CV.
In November 2013 he was appointed as a Senior Research Fellow with the title of Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs. In this role, Dan is heading up a three year project on a “European Economic Recovery Programme”, the purpose of which is to devise an economic growth model for Europe based on a politically acceptable strategy for managing the transition from debt management to sustainable economic growth.

Strong growth
This is of particular interest to Ireland where the return to strong growth is seen as an essential feature of the country’s recovery from the banking crisis.
Mr O’Brien also serves as Adjunct Senior Research Fellow in the School of Politics and International Relations at University College Dublin; is a former Economics Editor with The Irish Times; is currently a columnist and economics analyst with Independent Newspapers and has also been the Senior Editor/Economist with the Economist Intelligence Unit. Previously, he also filled the post of consultant with the United Nations Conference on Trade and in his broad and international career, Mr O’Brien has also worked with the European Commission as a political and economic affairs officer.
O’Brien was educated in his native Dublin and in University College Dublin and is the author of several important papers and presentations, which have been delivered at national and European level. He is a regular guest on national radio and television shows. President of Westport Chamber of Commerce, Neill O’Neill, said that the organisation were delighted to be teaming up with local chartered accountant Michael Cleary, to bring a speaker of the calibre of Dan O’Brien to Westport, for what will be a one-off special event.
Michael Cleary added; “Dan O’Brien has a stellar CV and a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of economics and business, and this event will give an excellent insight into many important aspects of business and finance, from a local level to a pan-European perspective,” he said.

The event takes place in The Ashleigh Suite in The Castlecourt Hotel on Friday, September 12, from 7.30pm, and is open to everybody. For more information please contact Westport Chamber of Commerce on 098 27375 or e-mail info@westportireland.com