John Callinan Taoiseach

He replaces Martin Fraser, who will become Ireland's ambassador to London this summer. The appointment, made on the Taoiseach's recommendation, will take effect ...

Mr Callinan has served as second secretary general in the Department of the Taoiseach since 2016. He has responsibility for dealing with Brexit, but his role ...

It added the post does not come within the remit of the Top Level Appointments Committee, and the same process was followed on previous occasions, most recently in 2011. As second secretary general, Mr Callinan led the International and EU Affairs Division and the Britain/Northern Ireland Division, which has included the Shared Island Unit since 2020. He has responsibility for dealing with Brexit, but his role has broadened in recent years, insiders say, and was the clear favourite to replace Mr Fraser.

One of Ireland's top Brexit negotiators has been appointed as the new secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach.

Mr Fraser served in the role since 2011 but played no part in selecting his successor. He played a central role in Brexit negotiations and championed Ireland’s case throughout the long running talks. Assistant secretary general in the Department of the Taoiseach Elizabeth Canavan, who came to prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic, was also thought to be in the mix for the position.

The Cabinet approved the appointment on Tuesday on the recommendation of the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, with the dual role making Mr Callinan the country's top ...

Mr Callinan has served as the second secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach since 2016, with responsibility for the International and EU Affairs Division and the Britain/Northern Ireland Division including the Shared Island Unit. John Callinan is set to become Ireland’s most powerful civil servant following his appointment as secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach and secretary general to the Government. The Cabinet approved the appointment on Tuesday on the recommendation of the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, with the dual role making Mr Callinan the country’s top civil servant from May 3rd.

The Cabinet approved the appointment on Tuesday on the recommendation of the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, with the dual role making Mr Callinan the country's top ...

Mr Callinan has served as the second secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach since 2016, with responsibility for the International and EU Affairs Division and the Britain/Northern Ireland Division including the Shared Island Unit. John Callinan is set to become Ireland’s most powerful civil servant following his appointment as secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach and secretary general to the Government. The Cabinet approved the appointment on Tuesday on the recommendation of the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, with the dual role making Mr Callinan the country’s top civil servant from May 3rd.

Two Oireachtas committees are to probe the appointment of John Callinan as Department of the Taoiseach secretary general without an open competition.

Mr Fraser will become Irish Ambassador to the UK from September. He played a central role in Brexit negotiations as the Taoiseach’s sherpa, or senior EU adviser, on the UK’s protracted withdrawal from the EU. She cited a report compiled by the Oireachtas Finance Committee and the PAC last year in the wake of controversy over the appointment of Robert Watt as secretary general to the Department of Health last year.

Diplomacy, decency and fairness will help Fraser replacement tackle challenges ahead.

But the transition, the political uncertainty that surrounds it between and within the two big parties of government and the run-in to the next general election when Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will be coalition partners but electoral rivals – these will all make for quite the cocktail in Government Buildings. He has his work cut out. It added the post does not come within the remit of the Top Level Appointments Committee, and the same process was followed on previous occasions, most recently in 2011. It is hard now not to see this as being in anticipation of his succession to the top job. Later this year will come another challenge that no Irish Government has managed before – the transition of its leadership from one party to another. While Fraser’s writ has ranged across all the operations of the Civil Service for more than a decade, with senior officials describing him as feared as well as respected, Callinan’s style is more low-key and less muscular. The most important factor in Callinan’s selection was that he is completely trusted by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, insiders say.

The appointment to the dual role makes him the most powerful civil servant in the country, replacing Martin Fraser, who has completed 11 years in the role and ...