Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2026
2083. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a detailed breakdown of his Department’s budget for the EU Presidency; the details of any planned gifts for attendees and dignitaries; details of any branded merchandise purchased; the details of events planned by his Department throughout the duration of the Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58614/26]
View answerIreland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union is an important opportunity for Ireland to shape Europe’s policy direction, lead important aspects of the EU’s work, and showcase Ireland’s engagement, expertise and values at the heart of the European Union. The Government has committed in the Programme for Government to resourcing and delivering a successful Presidency.
The breakdown of EU Presidency-specific allocations to Government Departments and State Agencies contained in Appendix 9 of the Revised Estimates for 2026 is published on gov.ie. My Department has been allocated €1.05 million for the EU Council Presidency.
|
- |
EU Presidency – Estimated Budget |
|
Presidency Pay |
€300,050 |
|
Presidency Events |
€700,000 |
|
Total |
€1,000,050 |
The overall estimated pay cost of €300,050 covers the additional temporary staffing needs arising in Brussels and in Ireland to deliver on the Council’s legislative and policy agenda and to support policy and operational planning. These staff members are supporting delivery of the significant additional workload involved in the hosting of the Presidency, including the central co-ordination of policy and operational planning for the EU Presidency for the Department of Social Protection, the chairing of multiple working group meetings, and coordination of one informal and two formal Ministerial meetings.
The overall estimated non-pay cost of €700,000 covers the central operational costs associated with delivery of the Presidency and with the planned meeting and events programme in Ireland and in Brussels including an informal Ministerial meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers, in July in Ballina Co. Mayo, a number of Brussels based events to launch an OECD/EU Commission Report on the Future Financing of Social Protection and on supplementary Pensions (Auto Enrolment) event in September, a number of informal technical meetings of Officials and a High Level Conference jointly with my Department of Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht, entitled Empowering Journeys: Local Innovation, National Systems, and European Collaboration, with a focus on addressing and preventing Intergenerational Poverty in November in Galway.
Costs associated with these events falling to my Department include: the secure transport of delegations and/or staff, simultaneous interpretation services, catering and accommodation for some meetings.
The Department of Social Protection will provide branded stationary packs to all visiting delegates to Ireland, and at all working group meetings in Brussels as is customary for member states holding the Presidency. The central Presidency planning team in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has sourced these items in line with the relevant public procurement guidelines. In addition, the Department of Social Protection has purchased a small number of Presidency branded banners for display across multiple events.
It is customary for modest mementos to be given, usually to senior-level Heads of Delegation at meetings in the host country, to strengthen goodwill and promote domestic craftsmanship. The central Presidency planning team in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has procured unisex Irish woollen scarves and notebooks for distribution to Ministers at high-level Presidency meetings. In addition, and in line with agreed guidance, I distributed a small gift to Ministerial colleagues and Heads of Delegation at the recent Informal Ministerial meeting in Ballina.
The final costs of the Irish Presidency to the Department of Social Protection will not be known until 2027, once all the work is complete and the final bills are paid. In the meantime, every effort is being made to ensure costs are being well managed across all areas.
