Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
314. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which Irish diplomats are being encouraged to apply for European external action service posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5035/21]
View answerThe European External Action Service (EEAS) is the European Union’s diplomatic service created to promote an EU-wide common foreign and security policy. It is staffed by officers from the EU Commission, the EU Council Secretariat and the Foreign Ministries of EU Member States, including my Department. The recruitment of diplomats from Member States to serve in the EEAS enhances the links and interaction with the diplomatic services of the Member States.
The Programme for Government makes a commitment to ensuring that Ireland is adequately represented in EU Institutions, including the EEAS. To that end, last October, the Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, T.D. launched a public consultation on Ireland's EU jobs strategy. Following this consultation, officials in my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are working together to develop Ireland's overall policy approach to EU staffing. The strategy will include proposals aimed at increasing the number of Irish diplomats securing positions within the EU Institutions, including the EEAS. While work on the strategy is ongoing, I hope it will be published in the coming months.
In the interim, this continues to be an area of focus for my Department in recognition of the value of placing Irish civil servants in key positions to enhance our influence and contribute to the effective functioning of EU institutions. My Department takes all reasonable steps to support the candidacies of Irish applicants for EEAS posts. Officers who are offered positions have been, and will continue to be, granted special leave for the duration of their assignments. Currently, eleven members of staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are on assignment to the EEAS, either at its Headquarters in Brussels or in one of the 140 EU Delegations located across the world. This includes one at Head of Delegation level and one at Managing Director level.
