Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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871. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff within her Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16567/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 2 officers from my Department on secondment to the European Union (EU) Commission (DG Social Affairs & Inclusion) in Brussels.  On 23 June 2016 there was one officer on secondment to the EU Commission (DG Employment) in Brussels.  The Deputy may also be interested to know that there are two officers currently on secondment to the European Labour Authority in Bratislava.

Their roles are outlined in the table below.  The posts within the Department vacated by these officers have been filled on a permanent basis and the seconded officers will be assigned to a vacancy in my Department on the completion of their secondment.

My Department is not aware of any current vacancies or ongoing competitions for seconded national experts with the EU Commission - where her staff would be eligible to apply.  Any such vacancies that are notified to the Department by the EU Commission (normally through the Department of Foreign Affairs) are advertised to staff;  staff are encouraged to apply and the Department supports the release of staff who are successful with their application.