Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

122. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the EU jobs strategy of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33048/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government commits to increasing the presence of Irish people in the EU Institutions. The new Strategy to implement this, ‘A Career for EU’, was approved by Government at the beginning of May and subsequently launched by the Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, TD on 6 May 2021.

As the Deputy is aware, Ireland faces a ‘demographic cliff’ in its representation among the staff of the EU’s Institutions, as senior Irish officials retire. At the same time, there are fewer Irish citizens entering into the system at junior grades. The new strategy is intended to address these issues, including with the aim of having 50 Irish citizens to have succeeded in gaining permanent positions in the EU Institutions by 2030.

The new strategy builds upon existing work presently carried out by my Department in promoting careers in the EU and includes a wide range of actions to significantly increase the numbers of Irish officials in both permanent and temporary positions within the EU Institutions over the coming years.

1. Increased promotion and outreach regarding EU career opportunities, including traineeships, to second and third-level students.

2. Providing more tailored support and training to Irish candidates applying for posts in the EU Institutions.

3. Providing additional resources dedicated to supporting the use of Irish as an official EU language, including by making training material available in Irish.

4. Increasing the funding of the Centrally Funded Scheme for Seconded National Experts to more than double, to 50, the number of civil servants seconded annually to the EU Institutions.

1. Expanding the current post-graduate scholarship programme, to enable at least 10 Irish students to study at the College of Europe in Bruges and Natolin.

2. Creating a stream within the Irish civil service for EU specialists, who will be assisted in applying for posts in the EU Institutions.

The implementation programme has commenced.  For example, Minister Byrne has met with careers services representatives from Third Level institutions, while a webinar on language careers in the EU is being organised by the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU.

I would encourage that those interested in careers in the EU institutions to consult my Department’s website www.dfa.ie/eujobsfor more information.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland opposes Israel’s inclusion in the new Horizon Europe Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33923/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland supports engagement by non-EU Member States in Horizon Europe by way of association. 

With respect to Israel, I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question 667 of 15 June 2021 and Parliamentary Question Nos. 277, 278, 279, 280 and 281 of 3 June 2021.