Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I indicated in my written reply of 19 January last that of the 560.78 whole-time equivalent staff at my Department at the end of 2009, there were 57 officers who held degrees in economics and related disciplines, 44 who hold a master's-graduate qualification in economics and related disciplines, and two who hold a PhD.

Specifically in the banking area, the Department retained two banking experts - one through direct employment and one through an existing private sector exchange arrangement - to supplement on an in-house basis the external expert advisory services retained on my behalf. The Department also has an in-house legal expert on loan from the Office of the Attorney General. These arrangements are important and are kept under review.

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