Posted: 31 August 2007
UCD professor appointed to National Economic and Social Council
An Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern has appointed Professor J Peter Clinch to the National Economic and Social Council. The Council analyses and reports to An Taoiseach on strategic issues relating to the efficient development of the Irish economy, the achievement of social justice, and the development of a strategic framework for the conduct of relations and negotiation of agreements between the government and social partners.
The Council may consider such matters either on its own initiative or at the request of the Government. The Council includes the leaders of the social partners and the Secretaries General of the Department of Finance; the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; the Department of Public Enterprise; the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs; and a representative of the Local Government System. Professor Clinch, UCD School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Policy, is one of three independent experts appointed to the Council. The term of office for members of the Council is three years.
Professor Clinch is Jean Monnet Professor of European Environmental Policy and Professor of Regional and Urban Planning at UCD. His research interests include: economic growth and environmental sustainability; sustainability and quality of life; European Union environmental policy; environmental valuation; energy economics; economics and the built environment; market-based instruments in planning; and environmental policy.
In 2001, he was awarded the Barrington Medal by the Council of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland for excellence in research in the social sciences for his work on sustainability and economic growth in an Irish context. In 2003, in recognition of his research and scholarship in this field, he was appointed by the European Union to the Jean Monnet Chair of European Environmental Policy. Earlier this year, he was awarded Honorary Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute for distinguished contributions to planning.
