The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, appointed an expert group to recommend cuts.
[2] The Taoiseach Brian Cowen, stated that the: "Special Group's examination of all programmes funded through public expenditure will focus on whether scarce financial resources are being deployed to achieve priority policy objectives.
The Group will identify options for savings in the context of the Government's fiscal objectives as set out in Budget 2009.
It will also ensure that public expenditure is being used to address relevant priority policy objectives in the current fiscal environment.
"[4] In March 2010, Lenihan said that, of the report's 271 recommendations, the government had decided to implement 32 in full and 89 in part, with projected savings for the year estimated at €1.7b.