Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of his Department staff, or staff from other Departments or agencies, that are seconded to the European External Action Service; the proposals there are to extend this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23198/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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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.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I welcome the fact that officials from his Department are working in the European External Action Service. It is always important that there are Irish people working in the various institutions of the European Union. On a slightly different issue, following the accession of the ten countries in May 2004, recruitment to the EU institutions was confined largely to those new member states. This is a time when we want to renew more candidacies for positions within the European Union institutions.

Given that Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council, has the European Parliament raised with the Tánaiste its severe criticism of the European External Action Service?

It was described previously as totally ineffective in international relations. The Parliament questioned its large budget, which amounted to €449 million in 2012. It was very critical of that and in April of this year, the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee called the service top-heavy and slow to react to crises and stated it is marked by too many decision making layers. That parliamentary committee also stated the EAS is being poorly managed, saying it has become apparent the EU is unable to ensure in the short-term a reallocation of resources, including staff, to match new political priorities. Has that issue been raised with the Tánaiste in his dialogue with the Parliament? Is it an issue of concern? It is an EU institution and we want to see it work as effectively as possible on behalf of the EU.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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On the numbers of Irish officers serving in the EAS, there are six diplomats, soon to be increased to seven, out of a total of 254. Our percentage is slightly higher than our overall proportion of the population at 2.4%. In addition, there are 43 Irish officials working in the European Union institutions who are also working in the EAS. That includes at the most senior level Mr. David O'Sullivan, who holds the post of chief operating officer of the service.

A review of the operation of the EAS is to take place this year but we must remember it is a new service which came into being only in 2010. There was a discussion at the informal Foreign Affairs Ministers' meeting held in Dublin in March about the service and we were aware of the comments made by the European Parliament about the service. As the review of the service proceeds, we will take those on board. It must be borne in mind that this is a new service and that it has huge potential. It is functioning at a time when a lot has been happening, particularly in the EU's neighbourhood: the Arab spring and the situation in the Middle East, the eastern partnership and the huge issues that must be addressed on the European Union's trade relationship with different parts of the world.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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From my limited experience of dealing with European matters in the past, there is great value in having more and more Irish officials working in the different institutions of the EU and whatever can be done to expand that whenever possible would be beneficial for the country in the long term.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I agree. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly supports Irish candidates who are seeking positions in European Union institutions. As the Deputy acknowledged earlier, there are now more member states, with a 28th state joining in July. We have done very well as a country in terms of senior positions and influential positions in the European Union apparatus and I hope that can continue. Irish officials who serve in the European institutions, including those who serve in the EAS, have a very good reputation and are highly regarded. We are proud of that and I pay tribute to the work our officials are doing in the Permanent Representation in Brussels during a very effective seventh Irish Presidency of the European Union. They are working hard and are a great team of people who have done us proud during this six month period.