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Dan O'Brien

Dan O'Brien

Economics Editor

Dan O'Brien is economics editor of the Irish Times. Before joining the newspaper in June 2010, he was a senior economist and editor at the Economist Intelligence Unit, an arm of The Economist Newspaper Group. In a dozen years in that role he specialised in European affairs and in global trade and investment issues. During that time he commented frequently in the international media, for broadcasters such as CNN and the BBC and in print, for newspapers such as the International Herald Tribune and the Financial Times.

Dan has also worked for the external service of the European Commission and as a consultant for the United Nations and Forfas. He has lived and worked in Italy, Spain, Belgium, Malta, Britain and Switzerland. His book "Ireland, Europe and the World: Writings on a New Century" was published in October 2009."

Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan yesterday: “Permanent debt relief is not something that can be offered to all”. Photograph: Dave Meehan
Real risk to homes in arrears, says Honohan

Central banker urges financial institutions to tackle ‘non-performing mortgage debt’

Ajai Chopra: said the euro zone’s bailout fund should not be used to deal with “legacy” banking debts. Photograph: Dave Meehan
Banking union is essential, says IMF official

Ajai Chopra sets out the case for ambitious deepening of the euro zone

Apple chief executive Tim Cook, centre, appears before a Senate investigations subcommittee hearing on offshore profit shifting. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters
Global clampdown on multinational tax avoidance could get nasty

Given the importance of the sector to the Irish economy, the Government needs to be proactive in facing down threats

Banking system remains greatest risk to economy

Rising number of bad loans is one of the main challenges says Central Bank Report

Half of property market professionals and experts surveyed say residential proprty prices will fall in 2013. Photo: Alan Betson
Experts believe property prices will fall in 2013

Over three years most experts expect prices to recover modestly

The report by the Brussels-based Bruegal thinktank argues that in hindsight Greek sovereign debt should have been written down at the outset
Ireland’s EU-IMF bailout has been a success, says thinktank report

Ireland’s bailout has been a success, Portugal’s a “potential” success and Greece’s a failure

In Ireland, as in most European countries, the banking system is the most important conduit for channelling money from savers to investors. If the most important part of the financial system is impaired, under-investment follows, leading in turn to sub-par economic growth
Too little credit or too few entrepreneurs?

Lack of lending is hindering recovery but debate on attitudes to enterprise is needed

In the first three months of the year exports of chemical and pharmaceutical products fell by more than 11 per cent on the same period in 2012
Exports subdued but strengthen for second consecutive month

Chemical and pharmaceutical exports continue to suffer

The Rotten Heart of Europe, by Bernard Connolly

An anti-EU polemic by a former Eurocrat is flawed by its shrillness of tone

More articles

Latest Economy

(Left to right) Irish Times editor Kevin O’Sullivan, Irish Times business editor John McManus and KPMG managing partner Shaun Murphy at the publication of the Irish Times Top 1,000 companies magazine in Dublin today. Photograph: Cyril Byrne. CRH leads ‘Irish Times Top 1,000’ survey
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton has welcomed the announcement of 100 new jobs by three Enterprise Ireland backed firms. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill/The Irish Times. Three State-supported firms to hire 100 staff
File photograph of a worker controlling a blast furnace at Europe’s largest steel factory in the western German city of Duisburg. Germany’s economy crept back into growth in the first quarter of the year after a sharp contraction at the end of 2012. Photograph: Ina Fassbender/Reuters. Germany posts meagre first quarter GDP growth
European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Michel Barnier: “We need more responsible companies.” Photograph: John Thys/AFP/Getty Images EU moves to crack down on tax avoidance
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda speaks at the International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo today. Photograph: Toru Hanai/Reuters. Kuroda sets out plans to guide Japan to recovery
Time to get into Africa?