Name: Professor Brendan Whelan.
Title: Director, Economic and Social Research Institute.
Background: Studied economics in University College Dublin and apart from a two-year stint in the London School of Economics he has worked in the organisation since 1969.
Family: Married to Maria; they have one son, 16-year-old Rory.
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Hobbies: A keen Irish speaker, his interests include fishing, reading and gardening.
Why in the news: The ESRI has helped lay the framework for the National Development Plan which is due to be published next month.
