Martin Fraser

Martin Fraser is the current Secretary General to the Irish Government and Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach since 1 August 2011. He had previously served as an assistant secretary in the department since 2007. He took office on 1 August after the retirement of Dermot McCarthy.

He holds a bachelor of commerce degree from University College Dublin and a master of science degree in economics from Trinity College, Dublin. Fraser joined the Civil Service in 1986. He has served in the Departments of Social Welfare, Foreign Affairs and Agriculture and Food.^[1]

Fraser was previously director of the Northern Ireland division. Highly regarded by colleagues, he joined the Department of the Taoiseach, as finance officer in 1999.^[2]

He was appointed as Assistant Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach in 2007 during which time he served as head of the Northern Ireland and international affairs division, the corporate affairs division and the economic and social policy division.^[3]

The position in the Department of the Taoiseach is in the gift of the Government. In July 2011 he was appointed as secretary general to the Government and secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach. On appointment he also became the chairman of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), which advises the Taoiseach on strategic issues regarding economic and social development. As Secretary General to the Government, he is ex-officio member (Commissioner) of the Commission for Public Service Appointments.^[4]

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