Noted economist Dr Alan Ahearne will deliver the third Paddy Ryan memorial lecture, held to honour the memory of the late businessman, on Monday week, January 18 in Áras Moyola, NUI Galway.
Dr Ahearne, who is special advisor to Finance Minister Brian Lenihan is currently on leave of absence from positions at NUI Galway and at Bruegel, the influential Brussels-based economics think tank, and in the Ryan lecture he will give his view on the country’s current economic situation.
He will be presented with a specially commissioned medal designed by the artist and sculptor Padraic Reaney following his lecture entitled ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Policy Making in a Time of Economic Crisis.’ The lecture will be followed by an open questions and answers session.
"Ireland is beginning to emerge from the most severe recession in our history. Policymakers have been battling to stabilise the economy amid a perfect economic storm.
“My talk will look at how current economic policy is setting the seeds for recovery,” he said this week when he was announced as the keynote speaker.
Dr Ahearne is a former senior economist in the International Finance Division of the Federal Reserve Board in Washington DC. Dr Ahearne's areas of expertise are macroeconomics and international finance. His research includes studies on property markets in Ireland and other industrial countries; global current account imbalances and exchange rates; the Japanese economy; and the economic performance of the euro area. In addition to being published in top academic journals, his research has featured in The Economist, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Irish Times, and The Sunday Business Post. He has been a regular commentator on economic issues on TV and radio.
President of NUI Galway, Dr James Browne said that NUI Galway is very proud to be associated with The Paddy Ryan Memorial Lecture, which honours Paddy Ryan’s lifetime of public service.
“We are particularly pleased to welcome Dr Alan Ahearne back to campus for what promises to be a most insightful lecture on the current global economic situation”.
President of GMIT Marion Coy said the institute is delighted to be part of this event at a time when business in the West of Ireland is facing significant challenges.
“The life and work of Paddy Ryan continues to inspire those who believe that we must take decisive action to shape our own destiny".
The event alternates between GMIT and NUI Galway on an annual basis and the presentation medallion is sponsored by Schneider Electric IT Logistics Europe (formerly APC ). The event is free and open to the public and will be followed by a reception. For details phone Elaine on 091 563536
Paddy Ryan was born in March 1920 at 18 Shop Street, Galway. A former mayor of Galway, alderman, honorary member of Galway Chamber, honorary doctor of laws from NUI Galway, chairman of Galway Race Committee, Oyster Festival, Rotary Club, Tidy Towns and the Amicable Society, he is remembered by many as the man who welcomed President John Fitzgerald Kennedy to Galway.
His family continues to operate several major businesses in Galway city. He passed away several years ago, but the lecture was conceived to honour his memory.
