Taoiseach appoints UL professor Stephen Kinsella as economic adviser

Stephen Kinsella is the Head of the Department of Economics at UL, Co-Director of the UL's Immersive Software Engineering programme, and Research Associate at the Rhodes Centre for International Finance at Brown University. Picture: Press 22

The University of Limerick economics professor Stephen Kinsella is to be appointed as Simon Harris's economic adviser.

The role will be seconded from the university, where Mr Kinsella is expected to continue his teaching. It is a similar role to that held by Professor Alan Ahearne who advises Tánaiste Micheál Martin part-time.

Mr Kinsella's work will be more noticeable ahead of economic set pieces such as the Budget.

He is the Head of the Department of Economics at UL, Co-Director of the UL's Immersive Software Engineering programme, and Research Associate at the Rhodes Centre for International Finance at Brown University. He is also a member of the Irish Government's AI Advisory Council.

The Dublin-native is also known for his journalism, having been a columnist for the Business Post and currently the Chief Economics writer for The Currency.

It is understood that he will take a break from writing while employed by the Department of Taoiseach.