Sunday Times on Irish Bank economists:

But public debate was dominated by stockbrokers and bank economists, the likes of Dan McLaughlin of Bank of Ireland (whose views are no longer in as much demand since the banking crisis).

Finfacts has more on McLaughlin's contribution to the property bubble.

And for an example of McLaughlin's other engagements in 'public debate', see this extraordinary segment featuring a discussion of the Irish Ferries dispute on Question And Answers in 2005.