Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The 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 European 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. Currently, six members of staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are on assignment to the EEAS. A seventh officer is due to take up a position with the service in early June 2013.

The Government is committed to ensuring Ireland is adequately represented in the EEAS and in all EU structures. My Department takes all reasonable steps to support the candidacies of Irish applicants for EEAS posts. Officers who are offered positions in the EEAS have been and will continue to be granted special leave for the duration of their assignments.

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