Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1164. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff within his Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16553/23]
View answerMy Department supports the Government initiative "A Career for EU”, Ireland’s Strategy to increase Irish representation in the European Union's Institutions and Agencies to make sure Ireland maintains its influence within the EU’s institutions for years to come.
My Department currently has a total of 10 officers across a variety of grades who are on secondment to EU bodies based in Brussels. The corresponding figure on 23 June 2016 was seven officers.
The principal duties of these officers include, but are not restricted to, the following:
Counsellor
• Leading and managing the Agriculture desk and its staff in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union.
• Promoting and representing the interests of the Department and the interests of Irish agriculture and fisheries at the Special Committee for Agriculture and at COREPER.
• Building of networks and maintenance of effective working relationships with key contacts across all three EU institutions.
• Developing and maintaining positive relationships with the representatives of other EU Member States, with a view to identifying areas of common concern and potential collaboration.
• Preparing for and attending meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council including, where appropriate, input to documentation and briefings for the Minister.
• Monitoring EU FTA negotiations, particularly the EU-UK FTA and ensuring that Ireland’s position is fully understood.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with third countries and industry representatives as required.
• Monitoring and communicating on a range of issues between the Department and the EU institutions, as the need arises.
• Report and comment on EU agricultural and fisheries policy developments with reference to their implications for Irish interests including an assessment of the positions of individual member states and third countries, where appropriate
• Ensure that adequate systems are in place to respond to specific enquiries from the Department so that they are dealt with efficiently and effectively.
• Co-operate with the Ambassador and other Permanent Representation personnel in administrative and other areas as necessary.
First Secretary
• Gathering and dissemination of information in both directions to and from the host country, and to and from this Department;
• Lobbying;
• Representing Ireland’s interests at formal EU meetings and at EU/International negotiations (for example, Third Country fisheries agreements, EU bilateral and Coastal States negotiations);
• Trade assistance, development and facilitation, including assistance in respect of Ministerial visits, dealing with food safety issues that may impact on trade and proactive co-operation with the relevant state agencies (Bord Bia, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, Marine Institute and BIM etc.);
• Representation at locally based international organisations to which the Mission or Embassy is accredited.
Executive Officer
• Attendance at and reporting on weekly meetings of the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) and monthly meetings of the Agriculture Council of Ministers.
• Where necessary, attendance at and reporting on meetings of COREPER, Agricultural Attachés Group, and other Council Working Party meetings.
• Management of day-to-day administration within the Agriculture Office (including management of administrative staff), e.g. handling correspondence with the various EU Institutions, obtaining official documents for transmission to Headquarters, etc.
• Co-ordination of briefing material and preparation of dossiers for meetings of the Agriculture Council, SCA, COREPER.
• Logistical organisation (hotel accommodation, Minister’s transport, protocol arrangements, etc.) of attendance by the Irish delegation at the Agriculture Council of Ministers meetings.
• Organisation of various other Ministerial and special events.
Seconded National Expert
From time to time, my Department considers assigning staff to Seconded National Expert (SNE) positions. In selecting SNE posts, my Department must strike a balance between filling these posts and the need to retain key expertise within the Department for ongoing responsibilities. The roles of any SNEs that we approve to be filled are linked to priorities, such as the Common Agriculture Policy, and ensure policy coherence between EU environmental objectives and funding of agriculture and forestry.
National Experts in Professional Training Scheme
My Department also avails of the biannual National Experts in Professional Training scheme which provides the opportunity to work in the European Commission for limited periods of three to five months. The skills and experiences acquired by Irish officials during their traineeship benefit my Department and facilitate greater understanding of the functioning of European institutions. Participation in this programme is in line with the Government’s overall EU engagement strategy.
My Department regularly reviews overseas assignments, assessing vacancies in line with workforce planning, to ensure that our presence abroad supports market access and delivers on the expected benefits.
