237. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Defence 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. [54590/26]

A total of 7 Presidency Policy Officers, equivalent to the civil service grade of Administrative Officer, have been employed by my Department on a temporary basis for the purposes of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which commenced on the 1st July 2026.  6 of the Policy Officers have been assigned to the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels, with the 7th Presidency Policy Officer assigned to the Department's Dublin office.

The policy officers are involved in aspects of the work of the Department directly related to the Presidency, including planning, preparation and delivery of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, or to backfill permanent officers assigned to those tasks.

For any policy officers who are seeking to join the Department of Defence or the wider civil service on a permanent basis they must, as per civil service recruitment policy, join through an open competition. 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.

In relation to internal competitions within my Department, the policy officers are entitled to compete for internal competitions in the same way as a comparable permanent employee, subject to meeting all the eligibility criteria. Periods of temporary service may be aggregated for eligibility purposes. If appointed to a permanent position as a result of a confined competition, they are entitled to permanent status from the date of appointment to the new position.