The face behind finance

THE top policy and deal maker in the Department of Finance is secretary general David Doyle.

Mr Doyle, 58, who was appointed to the top role in the Department in May 2006, is a father-of-four and is originally from Co Meath.

Mr Doyle was mentioned as a possible candidate for the role of chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE) before the organisation was formed back in 2004.

He studied economics, history and education in UCD and took up a job in Texaco before he reached his 20th birthday.

Mr Doyle worked in the private sector for five years before joining the civil service in the Department of Education in 1972.

He joined the Department of Finance in 1975 and worked in the public expenditure division until 1995.

Mr Doyle held the position of assistant secretary in the budget and economic division from 1995 to 1998 and in the banking, finance and international division from 1999 to 2001.

From 2001, he served as second secretary in the Department of Finance where he was in charge of its public expenditure division.

His responsibilities included the expenditure side of the budget, economic development, the commercial semi-State sector, public procurement and public private partnerships.

He was appointed secretary general in May 2006 and took up his post in July 2006 and will serve four years in the job.