Monday, 8th January 2024
Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Denis Breen, Brian Keenan.
Apologies: Elizabeth Canavan, John Shaw.
MAC discussed a number of issues, including;
• Plans for 2024, including potential for Q1 schedule of Cabinet Committees;
• Preparation for next week’s visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang;
• EU and International matters, including preparation for the Taoiseach’s attendance at Western Balkans Summit this week and attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including update on matters related to the prospects for restoration of NI institutions and update on UK Legacy Act matters.
MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;
• Recent publication of the Department’s Gender Pay Gap Report 2023;
• Annual ethics return obligations for designated staff;
• Upcoming internal Head of ICT (Assistant Principal Officer) competition;
• Denis Mahon, Higher Executive Officer Communications, joining via secondment, assigned to Government Information Services;
• Alex Deasy, Executive Officer, lateral move to Diary Secretary Role in Private Office;
• Norman O’Leary, Clerical Officer, lateral move to Cabinet Secretariat;
• Monika Kelly, Executive Officer, lateral move to Economic Division.
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Brian Keenan
Personnel Officer
Monday, 22nd January 2024
Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Denis Breen, Brian Keenan.
MAC discussed a number of issues, including;
• Update from last week’s visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang with thanks to all the staff who supported the visit;
• EU and International matters, including update from the Taoiseach’s attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including update on matters related to the prospects for restoration of NI institutions and preparation for visit of Mayor of the City of London, Michael Mainelli on Wednesday;
• Social Policy matters, including preparation for Thursday’s Cabinet Committee on Humanitarian Response to Ukraine;
• Economic matters, including preparation for launch of the Housing for All Q4 2023 Progress Report on Thursday and preparation for Cabinet Committee on Housing next Monday.
MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;
• Recent guidance issued on securing video conferencing and use of AI in the Public Service;
• Denise da Luz, Clerical Officer, joining via open competition, assigned to Economic Division;
• Sarah Eaton, Clerical Officer, joining via open competition, assigned to Private Office;
• Michelle Hendricken, Higher Executive Officer, returning from leave, assigned to Climate Action Unit.
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Brian Keenan
Personnel Officer
Monday, 29th January 2024
Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Dermot Woods, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Denis Breen, Brian Keenan.
Apologies: Elizabeth Canavan.
MAC discussed a number of issues, including;
• Economic matters, including preparation for today’s Cabinet Committee on Housing;
• EU and International matters, including preparation for the Taoiseach’s attendance at European Council Meeting in Brussels on Friday and the interim judgement of the ICJ in the case of South Africa vs Israel;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including update related to the prospects for restoration of NI institutions;
• Social Policy matters, including update from last week’s Cabinet Committee on Humanitarian Response to Ukraine;
• Preparation for the Taoiseach’s upcoming appearance before the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach.
MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;
• Business planning underway across the Department;
• Janis Tyrrell, promoted to Executive Officer via open competition, assigned to Strategic HR, Corporate Services Division.
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Brian Keenan
Personnel Officer
Monday, 12th February 2024
Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Denis Breen, Brian Keenan.
Apologies: Dermot Woods.
MAC discussed a number of issues, including;
• State Funeral of former Taoiseach John Bruton, with special thanks to Protocol and Civic Policy, the Government Information Service (GIS) and all staff who assisted;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive, and the Taoiseach’s recent visit to Belfast for meetings with UK Prime Minister, the First and Deputy First Ministers, and Northern Ireland Executive in Stormont;
• Update from the 3rd Shared Island Forum in Dublin Castle last Thursday;
• Social Policy matters, including preparation for Monday’s Cabinet Committee on Health and update on the humanitarian response for Ukrainian arrivals / International Protection applicants in Ireland;
• Economic matters, including preparation for Thursday’s Cabinet Committee on Economy and Investment;
• EU and International matters, including preparation for the Taoiseach’s attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2024 this week.
MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;
• Business Planning and PMDS Goal Setting underway across the Department;
• Niall McGuirk, promoted to Head of ICT Unit (Assistant Principal Officer) via internal competition, assigned to Corporate Services Division;
• Press Officer secondment opportunity in GIS.
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Brian Keenan
Personnel Officer
Monday, 19th February 2024
Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Dermot Woods, Denis Breen.
Apologies: Brian Keenan.
MAC discussed a number of issues, including;
• Department’s end January 2024 Vote position;
• Update from the Taoiseach’s attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2024;
• Economic matters, including preparation for Thursday’s Cabinet Committee on Environment and Climate Change;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including update on the Shared Island initiative before Government this week;
• Social Policy matters, including consultations on proposals for undertaking an evaluation of Ireland’s response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;
• Emily Hyland, Administrative Officer, lateral move to the Government Information Service;
• Kin Bang, Clerical Officer, lateral move to Social Policy Division;
• Áine Early, Administrative Officer, joining on secondment to Shared Island Unit;
• Kayleigh O’Donoghue, Press Officer, joining on secondment to the Government Information Service;
• Launch of SPS and PO Talent Management Programme;
• Staff Health Checks scheduled in March as part of the Department’s wellbeing at Work Programme.
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Denis Breen
Head of Corporate Affairs
Monday, 4th March 2024
Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Denis Breen, Brian Keenan.
MAC discussed a number of issues, including;
• The Taoiseach’s attendance in Paris last week at a summit of EU leaders on future support for Ukraine;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including recent Shared Island announcements and preparation for Thursday’s appearance by officials before the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement;
• Economic matters, including recent Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) meeting;
• Social Policy matters, including update on International Protection applicants to Ireland;
• EU and International matters, including preparation for the Taoiseach’s visit to Romania this week and Monday’s Cabinet Committee on EU and International Affairs.
MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;
• Medbh Killilea, promoted to Assistant Principal Officer, joining via open competition, assigned to Government Information Service (GIS);
• Louise Casey, Assistant Principal Officer, joining via interdepartmental competition, assigned to Economic Division;
• Denise Ryan, Executive Officer, returning from leave, assigned to ICT Unit;
• Andrea Scully, Clerical Officer, joining via open competition, assigned to Social Policy Division;
• Last week’s North East Inner City (NEIC) TY Work Experience programme in the Department with thanks to all staff who supported the students;
• Update on PMDS compliance and SPS/PO Talent Management programmes.
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Brian Keenan
Personnel Officer
Tuesday, 19th March 2024
Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Helen Blake, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Denis Breen, Brian Keenan.
Apologies: Émer Deane.
MAC discussed a number of issues, including;
• The Taoiseach’s St. Patrick’s Day programme of engagements in the United States of America;
• Social Policy matters, including update on accommodation for IPAS and Ukrainian Refugees;
• EU and International matters, including preparation for the Taoiseach’s attendance at European Council this week;
• Economic matters, including NDP expenditure ceilings.
MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;
• Daniel Sheridan, Higher Executive Officer – ICT, joining via open competition, assigned ICT Unit;
• Nominations for SPS/PO Talent Management Programmes;
• Circulation to staff of the Young Ireland programme 2024 and the National Experts in Professional Training (NEPT) programme, Autumn 2024;
• Update on Department’s PMDS compliance and Department’s end of February Vote position;
• Senior Management Team meeting scheduled for Monday, 25th March 10am for MAC and Principal Officers.
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Brian Keenan
Personnel Officer