Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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134. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there will be a recruitment process for additional staff for the EU Presidency; if persons outside the public service will be eligible for consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43844/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union are now intensifying across both policy and operational strands of planning.

As part of the preparations, my Department is currently 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 September 2025 and June 2026. It is envisaged that they will conclude their roles by the end of 2026. 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. 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.

In both Dublin and Brussels recruitment campaigns for these temporary roles were open to people from outside the Civil and Public Service. Due to the temporary nature of the roles, none of those recruited to fill these positions in Dublin and Brussels will be entitled 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.