asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if this country has got its quota of Civil Service appointments in the services of the EEC; and if there are regulations in existence which prohibit the full quota of appointments to this country where many fully qualified personnel are available in the public service.
Written Answers. - EEC Civil Service Appointments.
98.
The use of a quota is prohibited by the Staff Regulations of the Community Institutions which lay down that no posts may be reserved for the nationals of any member state. However, regard is had to the need to make appointments on the broadest possible geographical basis. There are no regulations in existence limiting the appointment of Irish nationals. I am satisfied that qualified applicants from all member states have an opportunity of competing for vacancies which arise.
At administrative level, the number of Irish staff in the Community Institutions is satisfactory. In the executive, secretarial and manual grades, our representation has been low in the past, partly due to the language requirements for appointments. While in recent years the position has been improving, the situation remains unsatisfactory. However, I am confident that the numbers will continue to increase. Recruitment is of course primarily a matter for the institutions concerned. Nevertheless the Government has an active policy of publicising vacancies and providing suitable Irish candidates with appropriate assistance. A recent example was the organisation by the Department of the Public Service and my Department of a preparatory seminar, attended by 220 Irish applicants, for a Commission competition.
The Government are fully conscious of the need for a substantial Irish presence among the staff of the Institutions at all levels and will continue to work to this end.