Ronan Lyons, Professor in Economics, Trinity College Dublin:

Ronan Lyons is a Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin. His research on housing and economic history has been published in leading scientific journals. He enjoys teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level and has developed two online modules for the public, on property markets and Ireland’s long-run economic development. He contributes actively to housing policy issues, having served on the Ireland’s Housing Commission and as a consultant to the IMF, and to national and international media on Irish housing and the broader economy. He is the author of the Daft.ie Reports and Brittle, How the Housing Crisis is Breaking Ireland – and How to Fix It.

Robert Watt, Chief Executive Officer of the Dublin City Development Company:

Robert Watt is the Chift Executive Offier of the Dublin Regeneration Authority.

Previously, Robert spent ten years as Secretary General in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. With the Department of Finance, he managed the budget and estimates process. During this period Robert was one of the principal advisers to the Government on economic, budgetary and financial policy issues. He was centrally involved in the management of the Troika Programme. 

Robert is an economist and has experience in both the public and private sectors. He has worked in several roles within the Department of Finance as well as previously working as an Economic Consultant and a Lecturer. He has been a member of numerous boards including the board of the NTMA and the Economic Management Council. He is currently a Board member of the Football Association of Ireland. 

Michael Horan, Head of Land and Property Services, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (MetroLink):

Michael Horan is Head of Land and Property Services at Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), where he leads land acquisition and property services for major national transport infrastructure projects, including MetroLink.

A Chartered Surveyor with the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Michael is also a full member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Property Economics from Technological University Dublin and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration from University College Dublin.

Since joining TII in 2017, Michael has played a key role in the development and delivery of major transport projects, including MetroLink and other light rail schemes. In his current role, he oversees land and property acquisition for national road, greenway, light rail and metro projects.