MR Joe Lennon has been appointed Government Press Secretary, moving from the Department of Finance, where he was Mr Ruairi Quinn's press officer.
His appointment signals a decision by the new Government to appoint an experienced public servant rather than a political nominee. In 16 years in the Civil Service, Mr Lennon (38) has worked for ministers from all the main parties. As one of the most accomplished and respected press officers, he was a natural choice for Government Press Secretary.
Mr Lennon joined the Government Information Service as a press officer in 1981, having previously worked for the magazine Industrial Relations News.
He worked through the period of government instability of the early 1980s. In 1987 he went to the Department of Finance, where he worked for the minister, Mr Ray MacSharry, through the crucial period of correcting the public finances.