Patrick Paul Walsh: Candidate, Seanad Éireann by-election, Cultural and Educational Panel, Nominated by the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT).
Le chéile ar son na síochána, an rathúnais, na ndaoine agus an phláinéid.
Who is Patrick Paul Walsh?
Professor Patrick Paul Walsh is a highly accomplished Irish academic and policy adviser with extensive expertise in economics, education systems and international development. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE) in 1994 and has since built a diverse career bridging higher education, public policy in Ireland and global governance.
His core career highlights include:
• Academic Leadership: Alongside his role as a Full Professor at UCD, he is Director of the UCD M.Sc. in Sustainable Development. He has previously held academic and research positions at Trinity College Dublin, K.U. Leuven, Harvard University, and Columbia University.
• Global Policy & UN Work: He served on secondment as the Vice President of Education and Director of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Academy at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). His policy engagement has also included, amongst others, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the European Commission and Parliament, the IMF, the World Bank and UN DESA.
• Public Policy Evidencing: He is the Vice President (and former President) of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland (SSISI) – an all-island forum that fosters evidence-based public policy discussions between government departments, academia, and social partners. He has extensive experience of Irish competition policy, including work on behalf of UCD on merger and competition cases with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). While at Trinity College Dublin, he also worked on the repeal of the 1987 Groceries Order, which led to the Competition (Amendment) Act 2006, engaging with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment under Minister Micheál Martin.
What would Patrick Paul Walsh bring to the Seanad?
· Expertise in Legislative Scrutiny: Through his extensive academic research and practical experience in public policy, he aims to bring an independent, highly professional, and ethical standard to legislative review and Oireachtas committee work.
· Focus on Sustainable Development: His core policy priorities centre heavily around Public Policy and Education for Sustainable Development, informed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
· Representation for Higher Education: Nominated by IFUT, he brings decades of experience and insight into the institutional, educational and research needs of the Irish university sector. He also served as a member of the Sixth Governing Authority of UCD (2019–2023).
Get to know Patrick Paul Walsh
· The Justice Edit Podcast - September 12, 2025.
In this episode, Patrick Paul Walsh discusses official development assistance (ODA) and multilateralism, sharing his views on international development and global cooperation. Check out the podcast here: https://thejusticeedit.podbean.com/e/patrick-paul-walsh/
· Global Citizenship Education Interview Series with Emiliano Bosio:
Patrick Paul Walsh joins Emiliano Bosio for a discussion on global citizenship education, exploring themes including, amongst others, “Care for People” and “Care for Nature,” and the challenges of lack of access to education. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/BHRqGuZE14c?si=2qLCYlAmmuVux45f
His Life Experience
He attended Scoil Lorcáin in Kilbarrack, and then St Fintan’s High School in Sutton, before studying at UCD (B.A., M.Sc.) and the London School of Economics (Ph.D. in Economics).
He is a graduate of the Raymond Smyth Academy of Music and former Auditor of the UCD Traditional Music Society.
He has played and coached with Naomh Barróg and Foxrock–Cabinteely GAA, respectively.
His international public policy work has also given him the opportunity to engage with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Selected Leadership Roles:
· Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland is an all-Ireland (SSISI):
President (2022–2025); Honorary Secretary (2004–2022); member since 1992.
Founded in 1847, SSISI is an all-Ireland society promoting evidence-based discussion of public policy. See his Presidential Address here: https://youtu.be/S_6jPrHEI0c?si=bHUF9Xu4U9KYEpBd
· Member of the UN Scientific and Technological Community Major Group 2014 -2026.
Patrick Paul Walsh participated in eight months of intergovernmental negotiations, led by Ireland and Kenya, which resulted in the adoption of Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015. His experience and reflections on the development of the UN 2030 Agenda are captured in his TEDx talk, delivered in Dublin in February 2016. See his TEDX Talk here: https://youtu.be/dy8kit9gnbM?si=XQddyU0dCEj16itb
· UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN):
Vice President of Education and Director of the SDG Academy (2022-2026).
The SDG Academy provides education and training on sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), spanning primary and secondary education, higher education and the workforce. The SDG Academy has certified more than 1.5 million learners on the SDGs.
Education, Equality and Peace: Selected UN Engagements
· SDG 5 – Gender Equality: Education and Justice for Women and Girls
In March 2026, Patrick Paul Walsh participated in a UN event hosted by Ireland's Permanent Mission to the United Nations during the 70th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Joining speakers from the Malala Fund and UNICEF, he highlighted the importance of lifelong learning and the need to ensure that education and training opportunities are available to all, particularly young people excluded from education and employment. Read the blog here: https://sdgacademy.org/knowledge-is-power/ Watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/6V8tgnYbrss?si=DslgloMn4jkNSHDO
· SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
In September 2024, Patrick Paul Walsh participated in Peace Not War: Accelerating Peace Worldwide, an event at the UN Summit of the Future Action Days, organised by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Permanent Missions of Ireland and Colombia, among other UN partners.
Drawing on lessons from the Good Friday Agreement and Colombia's 2016 Peace Accord, the event explored how peace, justice and international cooperation can be strengthened. Patrick emphasised the central role of education in building peaceful societies and called for greater investment in education systems and open access to educational resources. Read the blog here: https://sdgacademy.org/un-action-day-2024-official-side-event-peace-not-war/ Watch the recording here: https://sdgacademylibrary.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/t/1_5h6rtdzk
Looking to the Seanad
Patrick Paul Walsh brings decades of experience in higher education, research and public policy in Ireland and internationally. He would bring an independent, evidence-based approach to the work of the Seanad, with particular attention to education, sustainable development and the public interest.
Contact
PATRICK PAUL WALSH, Contact - ppwalsh@ucd.ie