The Government has named David Doyle as the new secretary general of the Department of Finance. Mr Doyle, who has worked in the department since 1975, will assume his new post on July 1st.

Since 2001, he has served as second secretary to the Department of Finance in charge of its public expenditure division, where his responsibilities have included the expenditure side of the budget, economic development, the commercial semi-State sector, public procurement and public private partnerships.

Between 1999 and 2000, Mr Doyle was assigned to the department's banking, finance and international division.

He previously served as assistant secretary of the budget and economic division, with responsibility for economic and budgetary policy.

Prior to joining the Department of Finance, Mr Doyle worked for three years in the Department of Education.

The timing of the appointment breaks a long-standing arrangement whereby Central Bank governors stood down to facilitate their replacement by senior department personnel.

In 2001, Central Bank governor Maurice O'Connell was temporarily reappointed for a second term as governor, pending completion of the changeover to the euro, but he stood down a year later to be replaced by then secretary general of the Department of Finance, John Hurley.

Tom Considine, who replaced Mr Hurley as secretary general at the department, is retiring from the position and will not replace Mr Hurley as governor of the Central Bank.

Mr Doyle (56), who is married to Kathleen Doyle with four children, will serve a four-year term as secretary general.