Here are the country's most senior civil servants running Ireland

As a successor was announced last week to Ireland's best-paid civil servant, we take a look at the people responsible for the day-to-day running of the Government's departments

A new secretary general was appointed last week at the Department of Health, replacing the country's best-paid civil servant Robert Watt (pictured). File photo: Collins Photos

Last week, as the Government prepared for a vote of confidence, two appointments were flagged in press releases.

The announcement of new secretaries general in the Departments of Health and Justice did not stop the presses or elicit much in the way of public debate, but the roles are significant. Secretaries general and their assistants are the country's most senior civil servants and handle much of the administration of the State.