Vol. 481 No. 1
123 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of personnel from his Department who are permanently based in Brussels as representatives to the European Commission; the nature of the representation, if any, involved; the commodity areas to which such staff have been allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15451/97]
My Department has three staff on secondment to the Department of Foreign Affairs for assignment to duties in the permanent representation to the EU in Brussels. Their function is to represent Ireland and Irish issues at EU level in regard to agricultural and food matters.
Four other staff have been recruited as national experts by the EU Commission and are employed in temporary positions there. While on such temporary assignment they are full-time employees of the Commission and their work location is a matter for that organisation.
In addition, there are a number of other staff who have taken up permanent positions with the EU Commission or the Council Secretariat while on special leave without pay from this Department.
