Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
612. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of additional staff employed or that will be employed by his Department directly or under contract for the purposes of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026 [37456/26]
View answerMy Department established a new unit to work specifically on EU Presidency issues in mid 2024. This unit is led by a Principal Officer who is supported by an Assistant Principal, 2 HEO's and an EO. In addition my Department has supplemented staff in the Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels with an extra Principal Officer (Counsellor), Assistant Principal (Attache) and 2 locally recruited Policy Officers. This is in addition to the serving Housing Attache already serving in Brussels.
Mindful of the wide range of EU facing areas under my Department's remit 16 temporary EU Presidency Interns have also been recruited and are now in place. Additional staff will continue be assigned to work in EU facing areas throughout the Presidency as required.
Finally, 3 Departmental staff are currently seconded to the European Commission in various Directorates and their experience and contacts will be of further benefit to my Department delivering on its EU Presidency commitments in the second half of 2026.
