Name: Donal MacNally

Age: 48

Address: Glasnevin, Dublin

Status: Married with three children - 22, 20 and 10

Education: St Declan's CBS, Cabra, BA in Economics from TCD and MSc Strategic Management TCD

Career: 1969-1971 executive officer Department of Industry and Commerce; 1971-75 scholarship from civil service to Trinity; 1975-1986 National Prices Commission, commerce division and insurance and company law division at Department of Industry and Commerce; 19861993 principal officer banking section Department of Finance; 1993-1994 public expenditure division; 1994-2000 assistant secretary Budget and economic division; June 2000-October 2000 corporate services and public expenditure; November 2000, second secretary Budget and economic division

Interests and hobbies: Reading, bridge and history

Why he is in the news: Recently promoted to second secretary in Department of Finance, in charge of framing the Budget, tax policy, the Finance Bill, economic policy and economic forecasting