Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has announced the appointment of Klaus Regling to conduct one of the preliminary investigations into the banking crisis.
Mr Regling will publish a report on the crisis in tandem with Central Bank Governor Patrick Honohan.
Mr Regling's work experience includes long experience as an economist in senior positions throughout the public and the private sector in Europe, Asia and the US.
He is currently chairman of KR Economics, an economic and financial consultancy in Brussels.
From 2001 to 2008 he was Director General for Economic and Financial Affairs of the European Commission.
Before that, he was a Director General in the German Ministry of Finance where he worked for more than a decade on Economic and Monetary Union in Europe.
Mr Lenihan said: 'I welcome Mr Klaus Regling's agreement to conduct the preliminary investigation into the origins of the crisis in our banking system.
'I am confident Mr Regling's extensive experience of senior economic and financial positions...will ensure a robust preliminary report that identifies the key causes of the crisis and provides a firm basis for the work of the statutory Commission of Inquiry.
The minister said Mr Regling's appointment follows discussions over the past week.
Mr Lenihan has agreed to Mr Regling's request that an assistant be appointed to help him complete his work within the timeframe set out by the Government.
