[5] He chaired an independent review panel on civil service reform in 2015[6] and was the independent rapporteur to the talks that led to the formation of Ireland's minority coalition in 2016.
[8] In June 2019 Rafter was appointed Chair of the Arts Council.
[9] Prior to 2008, Rafter held editorial positions with the Irish Times (political reporter), Sunday Times (political correspondent), Sunday Tribune (political editor/assistant editor), Magill magazine (editor) and RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster (Prime Time reporter and This Week presenter).
[10][11] Rafter has authored/edited over a dozen books including, most recently, Political Advertising in the 2014 European Parliament Elections (2017).
[12] His previous books include biography Martin Mansergh (2002)[13] - and several histories of Irish political parties including Clann na Poblachta (1996), Sinn Féin (2005), Democratic Left (2010),[14] and Fine Gael(2010)[15] His list of academic publications include numerous book chapters and research journal articles with a specific focus on media and politics including a study of Irish journalists in 2016.