Vol. 571 No. 2
158 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the additional staff or resources his Department has acquired or will acquire in order to meet Ireland's obligations as President of the EU during the first six months of 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21074/03]
The Department of Foreign Affairs has approval from the Department of Finance for a total of 140 additional temporary Presidency-related posts at headquarters and abroad. Some 70 of the temporary posts are based in the political division and the European Union division of this Department. These divisions are tasked with ensuring that the EU's internal and external agendas are managed successfully during Ireland's Presidency. Some 30 additional officers have also been temporarily assigned to the permanent representation to the EU in Brussels, in addition to approximately 40 officers assigned there for the Presidency by other Departments.
Many of the temporary posts are being filled by officers on Civil Service Commission promotion panels who are awaiting new permanent assignments. After the Presidency they will be appointed to their new Departments or, if they have not been assigned in the meantime, will return to their parent Departments. Other temporary posts are being filled by officers who have been permanently or temporarily redeployed to the Department from other Departments and offices, by interns or temporary clerical staff at headquarters or locally employed by missions and by officers who have returned from career breaks or special leave.
The Department of Foreign Affairs budget for 2003 includes a provision of €12 million for Presidency-related commitments. The final decision on the Presidency budget for this Department for 2004 will be taken towards the end of the year in the context of the overall 2004 Estimates discussions .
