Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

My Department has already changed its organisational structure and its deployment of staff in response to recent events in the economy and the financial system. It has demonstrated considerable flexibility in dealing with these issues. I am satisfied with the performance of my Department, especially in light of the extraordinary demands placed on it in the period since I came to office. The Department has helped me to address some tremendous challenges during this period, as we sought to stabilise the country's finances, restore confidence in its banking system and ensure that the country can re-establish its competitiveness. There is a good deal more work to be done and I expect to be able to call on the resources of the Department and the resourcefulness and dedication of its staff in dealing with the rapidly changing environment. Organisational change and development should be a continuing process and I expect further changes in the organisation of the Department of Finance to take place as the need arises.

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