Acknowledgements

My first acknowledgement is to my supervisor, Professor John Haslett. Although this is no surprise (I have yet to see an acknowledgements section for a thesis that did not start with a supervisor) I must emphasize that John has done a good deal more for me than most supervisors would and a great more than his job description would suggest.

John is a functioning collection of seemingly contradictory things; he is both enthusiastic and patient, wise and humble, serious and fun. He has begun to teach me that it is possible to appreciate the big picture and the minute details of a complex problem at the same time. Without this unique set of attributes I have no doubt that I would not have lasted long in statistical research.

John has guided me through a crisis of confidence when I felt that I had nothing to contribute. He has been both friend and mentor. However, it is in the day-to-day supervisory capacity that he has excelled most. When I look back at the range of errors and shortcuts I have attempted to get past him it is bewildering how he has managed to supervise me with a smile and to gently guide me back towards the correct path.

Secondly, I thank Professor Håvard Rue, of NTNU in Trondheim, Norway. I visited Håvard in Norway twice in 2007 for a total of three productive months and was made to feel welcome. Håvard’s knowledge of statistics seems almost limitless and the rapidity with which he has always replied to inquiries is astounding. His new methods and approximations are central to this thesis and will no doubt become used in a wide variety of statistical problem. Håvard contributed much discussion in the formulation of the zero-inflated model presented in the thesis.

On a more personal level, I must thank my patient and understanding girlfriend Emma who has put up with this foray into research from the beginning. She has not only accepted my self afflicted impoverishment but has fed and clothed me on occasion. Most importantly, I have never had difficulty in leaving work in the lab as coming home to Emma is coming home to the most beautiful girl in the world, which tends to re-focus my attention...

I thank my family, in particular my parents, who have part financed my PhD time and are always proud and encouraging. I have always been assured that there is no problem on which I cannot seek their help and advice.

I acknowledge Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland for the funding that paid for my time with John. The Norwegian Government Scholarship pool paid for one of the visits to Trondheim.