AS RUAIRI Quinn delivers his second Budget later this month, one of its chief architects, the Secretary of the Department of Finance, Mr Paddy Mullarkey will be more comfortable to remain in the shadows.

Once January 23rd is past, the State's top civil servant, a quietly spoken northerner from Co Fermanagh, will have already turned his attention to the 1997 Budget and to the other key issues, such as EMU, which his Department must deal with this year.

The frantic run up to Budget day, when the Department and Government ministers put the final shape to the package, is nothing new to Mr Mullarkey. The man who took over the top job at the Department of Finance 18 months ago, previously worked in the Budget division for 15 years and has been one of the main influences on the Budget in recent years.

A career civil servant, he has worked closely with every recent Finance Minister. In almost 33 years at the Department, he has seen many personalities take the helm at Kildare Street and is said to enjoy a good working relationship with the current Finance Minister, Ruairi Quinn. As the State's senior civil servant he earns £68,618 a year.

Mr Mullarkey's predecessor, Sean Cromien, once famously remarked that his job was to be "the last of the small spenders". In one of his few public appearances last year, Mr Mullarkey followed the same approach, delivering a strong warning to the Government on the difficulties it faced in framing the 1996 Budget.

Speaking to the Dail finance committee, he warned that the Government would face "difficult choices" if it wants to afford significant tax cuts this year. Mr Mullarkey also stressed the need to continue to reflect the fiscal discipline needed to ensure that Ireland will have the option to be in the first group to move to a single currency. In the next couple of weeks, as the Government parties see what "giveaways" they can afford on Budget day, Mr Mullarkey will not be slow to remind them of the need to stay on the path of fiscal rectitude.

Appointed to the most senior civil servant post in June 1994, Mr Mullarkey has worked in all of the main areas within the Department. Born in Roslea, Co Fermanagh, he went to school at St Columb's in Derry. From there he went to study for a degree in celtic languages, including Irish. Cornish and Manx, at Queen's University in Belfast, graduating at the age of 21.

He joined the Department of Finance in 1961, working as an administrative officer in the old establishment division. He was soon promoted to assistant principal and between 1965 and 1967 became private secretary to the then Minister, Mr Jack Lynch.

In the 1970s he took over as principal officer in the public expenditure division with responsibility for high spending departments including Social Welfare, Health and Education. Mr Mullarkey was introduced to the Department's Budget division in 1979 and remained working there until former secretary. Mr Sean Cromien, retired in 1994.

When the top job became vacant. Mr Mullarkey was immediately tipped as one of the front runners for the secretary's position, due to his vast experience in mainstream finance and his close working relationship with many Government ministers.

Over the years he has earned a reputation for attention to detail and for taking a tough line on Budget finances. Most sources credit Mr Mullarkey with seeing off many of the demands made on the Department each year in the run up to the Budget. His key lieutenant in this annual estimates battle is Bob Curran, second secretary in charge of spending.

As secretary, colleagues liken his role to that of a master puppeteer". coordinating the various divisions within the Department. "He is ultimately responsible for everything that happens in the Department, but doesn't get involved in the nitty gritty. He sets the parameters then hands over to staff to achieve that," according to a colleague. The detailed work on the Budget will thus be done in the Department's Budget division under the control of second secretary Michael Tutty.

Mr Mullarkey is seen as a "fairly cautious individual" and those who work for him believe he is a "steady pair of hands at the tiller".

While Mr Mullarkey is seen by many to be conservative", he will possibly oversee some of the biggest changes ever seen at the Department. Soon after taking over his new position, he commissioned a study to review the day to day operations of the Department. As part of the Strategic Management Initiative throughout the public service, Mr Mullarkey moved to identify problems and to improve the overall efficiency of his Department, which employs 450 staff and has a budget of around £12 million.

When the report was completed, colleagues say that, while its findings were disappointing, Mr Mullarkey insisted on circulating the findings to all the staff. Colleagues point to his strong belief in the integrity of the Department.

Soon after the report, which criticised the Department's hierarchical structure and highlighted a "resistance to change", Mr Mullarkey responded with a number of structural changes. Further changes, mainly designed to improve communication between its four main divisions, are expected this year.

1996 will be a key year for Mullarkey's Department not only because of the importance of the forthcoming Budget. As secretary he will also have to oversee plans for the move to an EU single currency. The Department is already seeking consultants to complete a major study on the subject and the Department of Finance will have a central role both in ensuring Ireland stays on course for participation in the "Euro" and for the hugely complex preparations.

This is potentially one of the most important economic issues Ireland has ever faced and as a member of the "permanent" Government, Mr Mullarkey will be aware that he will still be in his post in 1999 when, according to the current timetable, the single currency is to be introduced.

Known to be a private person, friends say he takes a "very balanced approach to most things in life".

His interests include a deep love for Gaelic football and he is known to travel a "fair distance" to attend matches.

The Irish language, and traditional music and singing can be counted among his passions. Theatre, books and hill walking make up his other interests.

Mr Mullarkey lives with his wife Agnes in Sutton, North County Dublin.