Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures his Department is taking to encourage civil servants in his Department to take or avail of special leave or career breaks, or other forms of leave to encourage and facilitate Ireland's 2026 EU presidency, the Government "Career for EU" jobs strategy, and the Department's Gaeilge/Irish-language policy and promotion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3945/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department regularly promotes roles for staff that are available in EU Institutions which will help facilitate Ireland's 2026 EU presidency, by advertising relevant roles internally. Currently there are 10 Department of Transport staff seconded to the Permanent Representation and to the EU institutions. Staff are encouraged to apply for positions in the EU Institutions and have been granted leave to take such roles.

In 2024 the Department's Human Resources Division in conjunction with the Department's EU & International Division launched an EU Orientation Programme. This programme provides attendees with a deeper understanding of the workings of the European Council, European Commission and European Parliament as well as Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the EU. It will also provide an insight as to what the upcoming 2026 Irish EU Presidency will entail.

Members of our HR team also attend Inter-Departmental meetings on Staffing in EU and International Organisations (IDC) on a quarterly basis to network and connect on postings in the EU.