They're a motley group, these authors. "They all share a rigorous and well-informed approach to their subjects," says Carol Coulter, editor of a new series of Undercurrents, published by Cork University Press this week.
"The writers come from a variety of backgrounds - academics, journalists, even campaigners," she says. Tonight, they have come from a range of different locations too - from the four corners of . . . eh . . . Dublin. They have come on foot, by car or bus and some, such as Paul Cullen, of this newspaper, have arrived on their bicycles. Adding to the gravity is Vincent Browne, columnist and broadcaster, who has come to launch the three new titles. The writers are Alan Matthews, associate professor in the Department of Economics, Trinity College, Dublin, who has long written on agricultural policy issues. Paul O'Mahony, who is a lecturer in psychology in the School of Occupational Therapy, Trinity College, is also the author of Mountjoy Prisoners: A Sociological and Criminological Profile. And then Paul Cullen, who is development correspondent of The Irish Times, and has written widely from Africa and other conflict centres.
The series sets out to examine issues of current importance for public policy and those at the centre of current debate. "The pamphlets are intended to address situations where too much public policy seems to be driven by a political response to pressure-groups," says Coulter, legal affairs correspondent of the Irish Times. "These pamphlets go beyond the politics of pressure-groups."