ESRI New Director

ESRI New Director

7/12/06

Professor Frances Ruane joined the ESRI as Director on the 1st December, 2006. Her previous position was as Associate Professor in the Department of Economics in Trinity College Dublin, where she also held the posts of Director of the Policy Institute and Director of the MSc in Economic Policy Studies.

On taking up her new role, Prof. Ruane said "I am delighted to be joining the ESRI at a time when the Institute has an exciting programme of research underway that can help inform the government's current and future economic and social policies. In our increasingly complex economy and society, the importance of independent and relevant research is more vital than ever, and the ESRI is committed to contributing to our understanding of the key issues Ireland faces. As a major centre of excellence in research in the social sciences in Europe, the Institute's research will help to ensure that policy making will be appropriately informed by the highest quality analysis."

A graduate of the National University of Ireland (UCD) and the University of Oxford (Nuffield College), Prof. Ruane previously held positions in IDA Ireland, the Central Bank of Ireland and Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. She has also served as a member on a number of Irish State Boards, including the National Board for Science and Technology, the Industrial Development Authority, Forfás and Bord Gáis Éireann. In addition, she has participated on numerous governmental advisory committees/groups on issues, such as Funding of Third Level Education, Tax & Social Welfare Reform, and Future Skills Needs.

A previous chair of the National Statistics Board, she represents Ireland on the European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social Spheres (CEIES).

Prof. Ruane has published extensively, especially in the fields of international economics and industrial development. She is member of the Royal Irish Academy and the Council of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland and on the editorial boards of the Journal of International and Economic Policy and the International review of Economics and Finance.

Prof. Ruane can be contacted on 01 8632000 or by email to director@esri.ie