The Northern Ireland Civil Service will for the first time be headed by a Catholic, Mr Gerry Loughran, it was announced yesterday. Mr Loughran (58), who has been in charge of the Department of Economic Development for the last nine years, will preside over 23,000 civil servants administering 10 government departments.
The Ulster Unionist MLA, Sir Reg Empey, who was Mr Loughran's Minister during the short-lived Executive, said he and his party were confident of Mr Loughran's abilities.
"Having worked with Mr Loughran in local government and for a brief period as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, where he is currently Permanent Secretary, I am satisfied he has the necessary qualities and leadership skills to head up the civil service."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Economic Development yesterday stressed that Mr Loughran did not wish his religion to be turned into an issue. "He was simply the best qualified person for the job and is now keen to concentrate on his new role," she added.
Educated at St Malachy's College in Belfast, Mr Loughran graduated from Queen's University in economics and politics. He taught as a university lecturer before joining the civil service. As under-secretary at the Department of the Environment he was involved in the regeneration of Belfast, including the Laganside development.
His appointment as permanent secretary at the Department of Economic Development in February 1991, along with Mr Pat Carville at the Department of Education, meant two government departments were headed by Catholics for the first time.
At that time, only 25 of the 175 top civil service posts with salaries over £32,500 sterling a year were occupied by Catholics, according to Northern Ireland Office statistics.
At the Department of Economic Development Mr Loughran has been one of the driving forces behind Strategy 2010, a joint public and private sector blueprint for the North's economy involving initiatives on education and training, research and development, information technology, transportation, energy and inward investment.
It is expected he will make renewed efforts to see the strategy implemented in his new role.
Among the business community, Mr Loughran has a reputation of approaching issues in a no-nonsense, hands-on fashion. Mr Loughran and his wife Gemma, a successful barrister, have two children, a daughter and a son. Another son died in 1990 at the age of 18.