Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is a matter of which we have been very conscious. We have taken on eight interns as part of the recruitment drive relating to the Presidency. We have also reassigned some experienced staff to various missions and consulates in order that they might carry out specific duties in the lead up to and during Ireland's Presidency. We have replaced them with temporary staff in some instances. What the Deputy describes involves moving of experienced people to positions where they can carry out Presidency duties and replacing them with specifically recruited individuals. We have done some such recruitment.

See this speech in context