THE death has taken place of Prof Robert O'Connor, the former research professor and deputy director of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). Prof O'Connor (80) worked in agricultural economics throughout his career.

Having studied economics at University College Dublin, Prof O'Connor completed his postgraduate studies in agricultural economics in the US at Iowa State University.

He started his career with Monaghan VEC, working as its chief executive officer. He later joined the Central Statistics Office, where he was responsible for building up the various channels through which agricultural statistics are currently collected and represented in the national accounts.

Prof O'Connor joined the ESRI in 1967 as research professor. While at the institute, he led extensive economic research into the Irish agricultural and fisheries sector. He retired from the ESRI in 1971.