Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
361. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of requests to his Department that were granted for various matters (details supplied); the number of such requests that have been refused; and the grounds on which they have were refused. [2499/25]
View answerThe policy in my Department, is to release staff on secondment to work in the EU institutions to facilitate Ireland’s 2026 EU Presidency. We do not regard this as special leave or career break and we have not refused any requests in this regard in 2024. 1 officer requested and was granted a career break to support their partner in taking up a post in the EU.
My department actively encourages staff to apply for posts in the EU and in 2024, 3 officers joined the EU Affairs and Presidency Planning Unit in my Department. Also in 2024, 2 officers were seconded to the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU in Brussels and 2 officers were seconded to the Permanent Mission of Ireland to The United Nations, Geneva.
In 2024, my Department ran two internal competitions at Assistant Principal and Higher Executive Officer/Administrative Officer grade to increase the Departments presence in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU in Brussels (PRB) in the lead up to the 2026 presidency where two panels were established at the respective grades. 4 senior positions have already been filled with the deployment of 4 Assistant Principal Officers on the 27th of Jan. The remaining panellists (3 Assistant Principals, 1 Higher Executive Officer & 2 Administrative Officers) are to be assigned to their new posts in the PRB in the Summer of 2025.
In regards to the Government "Career for EU" jobs strategy and in line with the strategies aim to increase the number of Irish officials in both permanent and temporary positions within the EU Institutions, my Department have ensured that all departmental staff are made aware of the career opportunities available to them via the Seconded National Experts (SNE) vacancies, where these vacancies closely align with the strategic relevance of my departments remit. In 2024, 1 officer in my department was seconded to an SNE post in the EU Commission.
