Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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1980. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff members posted at the Irish Permanent Representation to the European Union, including all counsellors and attachés, in each of the past seven years 2016 to 2022; the functions of each staff member; the new posts that have been created or discontinued, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30048/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department posts staff to Irish Permanent Representation to the European Union to support the continuing prosperity of Ireland’s agri-food sector, including the fisheries sector.

The table below shows the number of Counsellors, Attaché and other posts at the Irish representation to the European Union from 2016 to 2022. My Department also shares a Fisheries Attaché with other Departments in the form of a Maritime Attaché.

The principal duties of these officers include but are not restricted to the following:

Counsellors

Leading and managing the Agriculture desk and its staff in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union.

- Promoting and representing the interests of the Department and the interests of Irish agriculture and fisheries at the Special Committee for Agriculture and at COREPER.

- Building of networks and maintenance of effective working relationships with key contacts across all three EU institutions.

- Developing and maintaining positive relationships with the representatives of other EU Member States, with a view to identifying areas of common concern and potential collaboration.

- Preparing for and attending meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council including, where appropriate, input to documentation and briefings for the Minister.

- Monitoring EU FTA negotiations, particularly the EU-UK FTA and ensuring that Ireland’s position is fully understood.

- Developing and maintaining relationships with third countries and industry representatives as required.

- Monitoring and communicating on a range of issues between the Department and the EU institutions, as the need arises.

- Report and comment on EU agricultural and fisheries policy developments with reference to their implications for Irish interests including an assessment of the positions of individual member states and third countries, where appropriate

- Ensure that adequate systems are in place to respond to specific enquiries from the Department so that they are dealt with efficiently and effectively.

- Co-operate with the Ambassador and other Permanent Representation personnel in administrative and other areas as necessary.

Attachés

Gathering and dissemination of information in both directions to and from the host country, and to and from this Department;

- Lobbying;

- Representing Ireland’s interests at formal EU meetings and at EU/International negotiations (for example, Third Country fisheries agreements, EU bilateral and Coastal States negotiations);

- Trade assistance, development and facilitation, including assistance in respect of Ministerial visits, dealing with food safety issues that may impact on trade and proactive co-operation with the relevant state agencies (Bord Bia, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, Marine Institute and BIM etc.);

- Representation at locally based international organisations to which the Mission or Embassy is accredited.

Executive Officers

Attendance at and reporting on weekly meetings of the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) and monthly meetings of the Agriculture Council of Ministers.

- Where necessary, attendance at and reporting on meetings of COREPER, Agricultural Attachés Group, and other Council Working Party meetings.

- Management of day-to-day administration within the Agriculture Office (including management of administrative staff), e.g. handling correspondence with the various EU Institutions, obtaining official documents for transmission to Headquarters, etc.

- Co-ordination of briefing material and preparation of dossiers for meetings of the Agriculture Council, SCA, COREPER.

- Logistical organisation (hotel accommodation, Minister’s transport, protocol arrangements, etc.) of attendance by the Irish delegation at the Agriculture Council of Ministers meetings.

- Organisation of various other Ministerial and special events.