Review & Oversight

The independence, objectivity and academic rigour of the MESL research are vital, and accordingly the research is subject to additional academic scrutiny and evaluation.

A Research Advisory Committee (RAC) has been established to provide this scrutiny through a formalised peer review structure. The RAC provides peer review, oversight, guidance and independent expert advice on:

• data and methods to ensure high standards of reliability, validity and transparency in all research data, and the integrity of the MESL data and outputs.
• annual MESL updates, Working Papers, and commissioned research reports.
• identifying and prioritising research topics, and incorporating these into future work programmes.

The RAC meets at least twice a year to receive reports from the MESL Research Manager on the activities of the Centre, review future work programmes and crucially provides pre-publication feedback on research outputs, including the annual MESL update report and working papers.

The RAC members are drawn from national and international experts on the Budget Standards methodology, social policy experts in the area of income adequacy and representatives from relative bodies such as the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the Department of Social Protection (DSP).

The current membership of the Research Advisory Committee is:

• Dr Micheál Collins  - Assistant Professor, University College Dublin
• Dr Yekaterina Chzhen - Assistant Professor, Trinity College Dublin
• Prof Donald Hirsch - Emeritus Professor, Loughborough University
• Bríd O’Brien - Head of Policy and Media, INOU
• Nat O’Connor - Senior Public Affairs & Policy Specialist, Age Action
• Dr Naomi Feely - Senior Research and Policy Manager, Children’s Rights Alliance
• Alan Flynn - Principal Officer, Department of Social Protection
• Hugh Cronin - Department of Social Protection