Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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155. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of temporary administrative and policy officers expected to be hired by his Department, in either Dublin or Brussels, in the lead up to and hosting of the European Presidency in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32666/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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156. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional budget being made available for the hiring of temporary staff to assist in the lead up to and hosting of the European Presidency in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32667/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together.

Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time from 1 July to 31 December 2026.

Our preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are now intensifying across both policy and operational strands of planning.

The Government has made a firm commitment to resource and deliver a successful Presidency in 2026. As part of our preparations, my Department is recruiting for temporary positions in Dublin and Brussels to be filled in the lead up to, and during, the Irish Presidency. Some of those appointed will work in my Department while others will be assigned to work with other Government Departments.

In Dublin, temporary Presidency Policy Officers will take up duty on different dates between summer 2025 and June 2026. It is envisaged that they will conclude their roles by the end of 2026. Contract duration will, therefore, vary from between six months to eighteen months depending on start date. They will be remunerated at the first point of the Administrative Officer standard scale. At this stage in the planning for the EU Presidency, we anticipate hiring in the region of 80 temporary Presidency Policy Officers for positions in my Department and across Government.

In Brussels, my Department is also in the process of recruiting for a number of temporary EU Presidency Policy Officers and temporary EU Administration Officers. The people appointed to these positions will take up their roles in Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the EU, working on behalf of the range of Government Departments represented there. Their contracts will vary in duration from ten months to eighteen months.

The applicable rate of pay for these roles is in line with market rates for Belgium. The EU Presidency Policy Officers salary will be €49,806 and the EU Administration Officer salary will be €53,527. At this stage in the planning for the EU Presidency, we anticipate hiring in the region of 50 EU Presidency Policy Officers. The number of EU Administration Officers to be recruited is currently being assessed.

None of those recruited to fill these temporary positions in Dublin and Brussels will be entitlement to permanent positions within the Civil Service.

Our 2026 EU Presidency will be a major undertaking for Ireland and is a key focus for the work of our Government. We have a proud record of success from our previous Presidency terms, and we are confident that with the support of our partners we will again be able to make a significant and positive contribution to the EU in 2026.