Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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371. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of actions arising from the EU Ombudsman report on unpaid internships in the European External Action Service with his EU colleagues; if he will recommend action on the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34243/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU Ombudsman report on unpaid internships in the European External Action Service is an own initiative report that has not been the subject of formal discussion among EU foreign ministers. I note that High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission Mogherini has responded to the EU Ombudsman on the report outlining how the EEAS internship programme will be revised from next year and I will follow developments in that regard with interest.

The EEAS also recruits Junior Professionals in EU delegations on a paid basis and Ireland participates in that paid programme.

My Department offers a limited number of paid 11 month internships for graduates in the areas of human rights, conflict resolution and legal affairs. Such internships, when available, are typically advertised through the careers offices of Irish third-level institutions and also in the career opportunities section on our website www.dfa.ie. Internship positions also arise from time to time with the Department’s Development Cooperation Division, which administers Irish Aid. These are paid internship positions.