Tony Foley was born in Dublin in 1952 and is emeritus associate professor economics in Dublin City University Business School. He retired from his full time academic position with DCU in 2017. He is currently an adjunct lecturer in economics in the Institute of Public Administration, economic advisor to the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland and a regular media contributor on economics. He also undertakes economic consultancy assignments. Recently (in 2021) he had articles in the Irish Examiner on the pandemic unemployment payment, housing, and employment after covid. He authored a report on International Comparisons of Alcohol Taxation in the EU in September 2021. In April 2021, he published a report on Irish Alcohol Consumption. A report on hospitality employment was published in September 2021.Academic publications include books and articles on Irish industrial development. Before joining DCU in 1980 he worked in the Economic and Social Research Institute, Department of Finance, National Economic and Social Council and Industrial Development Authority.