Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff within his Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities that are presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19035/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department currently has one member of staff based and working with the European Union in Brussels, as Research and Innovation Attaché in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union. The officer represents Ireland at the Working Party on Research. The Working Party on Research handles matters in the research and innovation area, including legislation, before they are discussed in the Competitiveness Council meetings.

The working party mainly focuses on:

- European research framework programmes and other European research and innovation-related instruments

- European Research Area (ERA) and general framework conditions for European research

- international agreements in the area of research, science and technology

Additionally, the officer works closely with all teams within the Permanent Representation of Ireland in ensuring that they contribute to overall collective Ireland interests.

There is also work carried out on behalf of my Department by the Education Attaché in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union. The Education Attaché is Department of Education staff and represents education interests for both departments in Brussels. The Education Attaché post is a key position within the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU in Brussels, particularly in light of the significantly increased profile of education and training issues in the EU’s European Education Area Initiative, EU Education and Training Strategy and European Semester process. The Attaché has involvement in education issues at all levels in which European policy co-operation is being developed and in Ireland’s participation in European Programmes, including Erasmus+, the European Social Fund, the European Globalisation Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative. In addition, the Attaché represents the Department on the Education committee, OECD Education Policy Committee in Paris and participates in related OECD activities, as necessary.

The position on 23 June 2016 was that my Department had not been formed.