Press release
Minister McGrath attends Informal Meeting of Public Administration Ministers
From Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
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Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, today (Tuesday), attended a meeting of Public Administration Ministers of the European Union.
The hybrid meeting was chaired by the Portuguese Presidency, with Ministers attending in Lisbon and remotely, with Minister McGrath dialling in from Dublin.
Attendees included Budget and Administration Commissioner Johannes Hahn, and Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira.
Minister McGrath briefed Ministers on the work underway to increase Irish representation in the EU’s institutions:
“I was pleased to accept an invitation from the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of Ministers to showcase the work underway in Ireland to increase the number of Irish people working in the EU Institutions”.
The Minister noted that Ireland is in its fifth decade of membership of the European Union, something that has played an immense role in Ireland’s social, economic and political development:
“Irish membership of the European Union has been characterised by a very significant contribution by Irish people, at all levels, to the work of its Institutions. As we approach our fiftieth anniversary of EU membership, it is important that this continues”.
Building on a Programme for Government commitment, the Government last month launched its new EU jobs strategy, *A Career for EU*, which is designed to encourage more Irish people to work in the EU Institutions, including the European Commission , the European Parliament , and the Council of Ministers.
The Minister said it is important to have Irish people working in the EU’s Institutions:
“The Institutions need to reflect the citizens they serve as well as the diversity there is across all the 27 Member States and it is important to have people working in the Institutions who know and understand Ireland, our systems, our values and our priorities”.
The Minister encouraged the Commission to put in place measures to ensure there is a balanced geographical representation among staff of the Institutions.
