Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
477. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [16557/23]
View answerThere are currently 11 staff within my Department who are working with the European Union in Brussels. *In addition to these 11, there is 1 staff member - a seconded national expert - seconded to the European Commission, in Washington D.C.
I can also confirm there are currently no vacant posts.
The tables below set out the number of staff, their present roles, and responsibilities and also the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016.
Table 1 - Officers seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs to work on behalf of my Department at the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels:
|
Number of staff in post on 18 April 2023 |
Number of staff in post on 23 June 2016 |
Role |
Responsibilities |
|
1 |
1 |
PO Counsellor, Competitiveness Council |
Competitiveness, Industry, SMEs, State Aid, Data, Chips Act, Artificial Intelligence, Space, Foreign Subsidies |
|
1 |
1 |
Attaché (First Secretary), Competitiveness Council |
Competition, Single Market, Better Regulation, Standardisation, Intellectual Property, Digital |
|
1 |
1 |
Attaché (First Secretary), Competitiveness Council |
Consumer, Company Law, Chemicals, Workplace Health & Safety, Technical Harmonisation |
|
0 This posting transferred to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research and Science as part of the transfer of functions in 2021. |
1 |
Attaché (First Secretary), Research, and Innovation |
Furtherance of the Department’s Research and Innovation agenda |
|
1 |
1 |
PO Counsellor, Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) |
Ensuring Ireland’s position on individual trade and investment matters are promoted, secured, and protected. |
|
1 |
0 Attaché post created in 2020 |
Attaché (First Secretary), Employment, Social Policy, Health, and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) |
Furtherance of the Department’s Employment / Labour Affairs agenda |
|
1 |
0 Attaché post created in 2017 |
Attaché (Third Secretary), Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) |
Ensuring Ireland’s position on individual trade and investment matters are promoted, secured, and protected |
Table 2 – Seconded to the European Commission, Brussels and Washington, to work as Seconded National Experts (SNEs). There were no staff of my Department seconded to the European Commission, Brussels as SNEs in 2016:
|
Number of Staff currently in post |
Role |
Responsibilities |
|
1 |
Seconded National Expert - DG - TRADE-G-5 - |
Dealing with anti-dumping and anti-subsidy matters |
|
1 |
Seconded National Expert – Directorate General for Internal Policies of the EU |
Providing administrative and logistical back up for Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee |
|
1 |
Units COMP – H2 and HR |
Policy and enforcement of EU State aid rules applicable in all Member States in the areas of Research & Development & Innovation |
|
1* |
Seconded National Expert - DG Trade (delegation) based in Washington D.C. |
Policy Analysis, monitoring and co-ordination |
Table 3 – On EU special leave to work in the European Commission, Brussels as per D/Finance Circular 33 of 1991:
|
Number of staff currently in post |
Number of staff in post on 23 June 2016 |
|
2 |
1 |
