Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present state of recruitment for the new European Union Diplomatic Instrument; his estimate of the likely Irish involvement; and the process of filling posts which has been used to date. [20953/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Considerable progress has been made towards establishing the European External Action Service (EEAS) which is an important innovation under the Lisbon Treaty to support the work of the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton.

Ministers reached a broad political understanding at the 26 April General Affairs Council on the essential elements of a Council Decision which will establish the organisation and functioning of the EEAS. The High Representative, the Commission and the Presidency are now in discussion with representatives of the Parliament and with other stakeholders with the aim of finalising if possible the Council Decision at the June General Affairs Council.

The Treaty provides that the EEAS will comprise officials from relevant departments of the Commission and the Council Secretariat, as well as staff seconded from national diplomatic services of the Member States. The process for recruiting staff from these three sources will be laid out in the Council Decision when it is adopted. Appropriate amendments to the EU's Staff Regulations will also be required and these are being processed.

Ireland has consistently pressed for the EEAS recruitment process to be open, transparent and merit-based, while also ensuring that EEAS staffing is representative of the diversity of the Union. In light of the broad agreement at the April GAC, I am confident that the final Decision will reflect this approach to recruitment.

Irish candidates will be able to compete for positions within the EEAS on an equal footing with candidates from other Member States and from the EU institutions. My Department has sought general expressions of interest from its officers who might consider working for the EEAS and has received a very positive response.

The overall size of the EEAS is still under consideration and it will be some years before it reaches full operational strength. Staffing from the member States, including Ireland, is likely to start more slowly than from the EU institutions but a target has been set to have one third of the EEAS staff coming from the diplomatic services of the Member States by 1 July 2013. The High Representative will report shortly on how she intends to achieve this target.

Over time, I believe there will be a real benefit to the State through the experience gained by the rotation of Irish officials between the EEAS and the Irish diplomatic service. I look forward to Irish candidates of the highest calibre being recruited into the new Service.

Before the EEAS recruitment begins formally, the process of appointing Heads of EU Delegations – formerly Commission Delegations - has already been opened to candidates from the diplomatic services of the member states. I understand that a number of Irish candidates, including officers from my own Department, have applied for these posts, of which 31 are due to be filled this year. Applicants were subject to a preselection process and the remaining candidates are being assessed by interview panels on which Member States are represented as observers.