Secretariat

Dr. Larry O’Connell is the Director of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). As senior economist in NESC, since 2007, he worked on a range of policy areas including Ireland’s transition to low-carbon and digital future; housing and land; climate change and sustainable development; higher education funding; and Ireland’s five part crisis.

PA to Director,  paula.hennelly@nesc.ie  / 00353 1 8146332

Dr. Anne-Marie has a PhD in Gender and Women’s Studies from Trinity College Dublin. Her thesis compared the impact of the impact of government policies on women’s employment in France and Ireland.

Dr. Cathal FitzGerald is Senior Analyst at NESC, specialising in economic policy and decision-making analysis.

Dr. Damian Thomas joined the NESC in April 2010 having previously worked in the NCPP since 2002. Before joining the NCPP he worked as a Research Officer with the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS).

Edna Jordan joined the NESC in April 2010 having previously worked in the NCPP for over eight years. During this time she managed a range of projects and collaborative initiatives involving public and private sector organisation.

Elaine Kennedy is a social policy analyst on secondment to NESC since May 2021 from the Department of Foreign Affairs, where she worked in the Evaluation and Audit Unit.

Gaye Malone joined the NESC in April 2010, having previously worked with the NCPP over an eight-year period. During this time, Gaye was PA to the Executive Chairman and Director.

Dr. Helen Johnston joined the NESC as Senior Social Policy Analyst in July 2007. Since then she has worked on issues of well-being and social reporting.

Dr. Jeanne Moore primarily works on sustainable development projects in NESC, most recently on environmental policy integration, community engagement in wind energy and the role and future of environmental data.

Dr. Mary-Clare O’Sullivan has a PhD in Political Science from Trinity College Dublin and a Masters of Economic Science (Policy Analysis) from the IPA.  She has worked on policy analysis and development across a range of areas during her career including economic, innovation and better regulation policy, as well as international relations and British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs. She served as Secretary to the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality from 2019-2021.

Niamh Garvey joined NESC as Senior Policy Analyst in March 2021. Niamh currently works on the Well-being Framework project.

Noel Cahill is an economist in the NESC Secretariat. His research has covered Irish economic development and a wide range of public policy areas including macroeconomic policy, housing and taxation.