205. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of EU Presidency policy and administrative officers now employed on temporary contracts across her Department, in Ireland and abroad; if these individuals can apply to internal civil service competitions for these temporary contracts; the plans being developed to retain these individuals once their contracts cease, given they will have extensive and intimate knowledge of EU and Irish institutional operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54594/26]

As of 13 July 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade employs 78 Presidency Policy Officers at its headquarters in Dublin on fixed-term contracts for the planning, preparation and delivery of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union or to backfill permanent officers assigned to those tasks. These officers are remunerated at the first point of the Administrative Officer standard scale.

The Department has also hired 14 EU Presidency Policy Officers and 9 EU Presidency Administration Officers based in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels on temporary contracts for similar purposes.  Additionally, as of 13 July 2026, 22 other diplomatic missions across Europe have received sanction to recruit 25 EU Presidency Policy Officers, on temporary contracts.

The Department facilitated the recruitment of a number of temporary presidency staff for other government departments based in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels.

The colleagues recruited on these fixed-term contracts are making a key contribution to the delivery of Ireland's Presidency. The officials of my Department are committed to ensuring that these temporary colleagues gain valuable experience that they can take forward with them in their future careers.

Anyone who is seeking to join the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or other areas in the civil service on a permanent basis must apply through an open competition in line with civil service recruitment policy. Publicjobs is the main provider of recruitment services to the Department and to the wider civil service. Any open competitions that arise will be advertised through the Publicjobs website and additionally, for competitions specific to my Department, on the Department's website and social media channels.