MAC Minutes 2025

Monday, 6th January 2025

Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Padraig Ó Conaill, Brian Keenan.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Administrative matters related to the formation of a new Government;
• EU and International matters, including the upcoming World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland;
• Recent publication of the Department’s Gender Pay Gap Report 2024.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Annual ethics return obligations for designated staff;
• 2025 Strategic Leadership Programme.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 13th January 2025

Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Padraig Ó Conaill, Brian Keenan.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Administrative matters related to the formation of a new Government;
• EU and International matters, including update on diary matters which include the upcoming World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland and upcoming Auschwitz Memorial event in late January;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including preparation for meeting of Irish Secretaries General and UK Permanent Secretaries in Dublin next week.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Department’s end December 2024 Vote Position and commencement of 2024 Audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General;
• Department’s Climate Action Roadmap 2024;
• Senior Management Team meetings for Q1 & Q2 2025.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 20th January 2025

Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Padraig Ó Conaill, Brian Keenan.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Draft Programme for Government and administrative matters related to the formation of a new Government;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including preparation for a meeting of Secretaries General with UK Permanent Secretaries in Dublin on Thursday and Friday;
• EU and International matters, including ceasefire in Gaza, inauguration of President-elect Trump in the United States and preparation for Auschwitz Memorial event next week.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Reminder for the SPS Strategic Leadership Programme 2025 deadline of Thursday lunchtime;
• Preparation for next week’s Senior Management Team meeting.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 27th January 2025

Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Mary Keenan, Padraig Ó Conaill, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Émer Deane, Helen Blake.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Appointment of Taoiseach Micheál Martin and new Government last Thursday, with special thanks to the significant number of Department staff involved in the successful preparation for and coordination of this important event;
• Update on the unprecedented impact of Storm Éowyn and the ongoing whole-of-government intensive recovery response being coordinated by the National Emergency Coordination Group;
• Discussion on the year ahead, including Programme for Government matters.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 4th February 2025

Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Émer Deane, Mary Keenan, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Helen Blake, Padraig Ó Conaill.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Ongoing whole-of-government intensive recovery response to Storm Éowyn including; coordination by the National Emergency Coordination Group over the weekend;
• Economic matters, including update on housing matters and preparation for upcoming Senior Officials’ Group meeting on energy issues;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including update on Shared Island Unit matters and preparation for the Taoiseach’s call with First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney MSP;
• Discussion on the year ahead, including Cabinet Committees.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Reminder for the 10th Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Awards, closing date of 14th February 2025;
• Preparation for next week’s North East Inner City (NEIC) TY Work Experience programme;
• Applications received for the 2025 SPS Strategic Leadership Programme.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 10th February 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, John Shaw, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Mary Keenan, Padraig Ó Conaill, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Helen Blake.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Recovery response to Storm Éowyn;
• EU and International matters, including the Taoiseach’s attendance in Brussels on Monday for meetings with European Council President, Antonio Costa, and European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, and planned attendance at Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris on Tuesday and Munich Security Conference on Friday/Saturday;
• Economic matters, including preparation for the Taoiseach and Tánaiste’s meeting with CEOs of Irish companies on Friday;
• Social Policy matters, including update on the establishment of Disability Unit.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• North East Inner City (NEIC) TY Work Experience programme taking place in the Department this week;
• Internal competition for the position of Private Secretary to the Government Chief Whip;
• Upcoming internal Services Officer competition.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 17th February 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Padraig Ó Conaill, Brian Keenan.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Economic matters, including update from the Taoiseach’s meeting with CEOs of Irish companies on Friday and preparation for Monday’s Ministerial Meeting on Housing matters;
• EU and International matters, including update on the Taoiseach’s international engagements last week which included meetings with EU institution presidents in Brussels, AI Summit in Paris and the Munich Security Conference, and Taoiseach's meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Government Buildings earlier that day;
• Update on Cabinet Committees and preparation for the Taoiseach’s Article 28 meeting with the President in Áras an Uachtaráin this week;
• Social Policy matters, including preparation for a Ministerial Meeting on Disability matters.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Competition for the position of Private Secretary to the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence;
• PMDS (end of year reviews), due for completion in February;
• Upcoming Induction Event for Special Advisers.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Tuesday, 18th March 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Padraig Ó Conaill

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• The Taoiseach’s St. Patrick’s Day programme of engagements in the United States of America;
• EU and International matters, including preparation for the Taoiseach’s attendance at European Council this week;
• Social Policy matters, including preparation for Tuesday’s launch of the North East Inner City Initiative’s 2024 Progress Report and Strategic Plan 2024 - 2027 and preparation for Monday’s Cabinet Committee on Disability;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including the inaugural UK-Ireland Summit held in Liverpool recently;
• Economic matters, including preparation for Monday’s Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• PMDS and LEADs end of year compliance and update on the Department’s Vote Position;
• Friday’s Fire Drill at Government Buildings with thanks to staff for their cooperation.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 24th March 2025

Present: John Callinan, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Padraig Ó Conaill, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Dermot Woods.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• EU and International matters, including update from the Taoiseach’s attendance at European Council last week;
• Economic matters, including preparation for Monday’s Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure;
• Social Policy matters, including preparation for Monday’s Cabinet Committee on Disability;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including preparation for upcoming Shared Island Forum.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Departmental Council Meeting on Wednesday;
• Coffee Morning on Wednesday in aid of Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Day.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 7th April 2025

Present: John Callinan, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Padraig Ó Conaill, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Dermot Woods, John Shaw.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• The Taoiseach’s meeting with EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, in Government Buildings last week;
• EU and International matters, including update from Taoiseach’s attendance at a Summit of European Leaders in Paris on 27th March;
• Social Policy matters, including preparation for Monday’s Cabinet Committee on Health and Thursday’s Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including preparation for Thursday’s Shared Island Forum;
• Economic matters, including preparation for Monday’s Cabinet Committee on Climate Action, Environment and Energy and Thursday’s Cabinet Committee on The Economy, Trade and Competitiveness.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Workforce planning matters, including the National Experts in Professional Training (NEPT) programme, Bucerius Summer School on Global Governance 2025 and update from recent Departmental Council Meeting;
• Department’s draft Communications Guide;
• Consultation on the National Public Procurement Strategy;
• Department’s 2024 Appropriation Account and associated Comptroller and Auditor General Audit.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 14th April 2025

Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Padraig Ó Conaill, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Dermot Woods.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Procedures for submission of Memorandums to Government including associated deadlines;
• Last week’s Cabinet Committee on Health, Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Climate Action, Environment and Energy and Cabinet Committee on The Economy, Trade and Competitiveness;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including last week’s Shared Island Forum and preparation for the Taoiseach’s planned meeting this week with former United States Senator, George Mitchell;
• EU and International matters, including United States tariffs;
• Preparations for the Commemoration to mark the Anniversary of the 1916 Rising on Easter Sunday at the GPO.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Staff Meeting at 11am.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 12th May 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, Mary Keenan, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: John Shaw.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• The Commemoration to mark the Anniversary of the 1916 Rising on Easter Sunday at the GPO, with thanks to staff who assisted during the preparation and delivery of the event;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including preparation for Monday’s Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland and Friday’s meeting between Irish Secretaries General and their Northern Ireland Executive counterparts;
• EU and International matters, including the Taoiseach’s meeting with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever, as part of a two-day visit to Belgium last week.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Update on the National Expert in Professional Training (NEPT) and Young Ireland Programmes;
• The Department’s compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005;
• Upcoming Inclusion Event hosted by the Department’s Wellbeing, Engagement and Belonging Committee.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 19th May 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Brian Keenan.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Funeral of Garda Kevin Flatley with sympathies extended to his family, friends and colleagues;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including recent Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach’s call with UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer;
• Economic matters, including update on Housing matters and preparation for next week’s Cabinet Committee on the Economy, Trade and Competitiveness;
• EU and International matters, including Monday’s Government Trade Forum Meeting and EU trade tariff matters;
• Social Policy matters, including the Taoiseach’s attendance at last week’s Cross-Government Network on Child Poverty and Wellbeing in Government Buildings and preparation for upcoming Cabinet Committee on Health;
• Department Vote Position at end of March;
• Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service;
• Department Statement of Compliance with the 2024 Climate Action mandate;
• Reminder for upcoming Senior Management Team (SMT) Meeting and Department Inclusion Event.

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 9th June 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, John Shaw, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Helen Blake, Mary Keenan.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Recent Cabinet Committees including, Cabinet Committee on The Economy, Trade and Competitiveness, Cabinet Committee on Health, Cabinet Committee on Disability and Cabinet Committee on Housing;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including preparation for the upcoming British Irish Council and North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) Meetings;
• Economic matters, including the Summer Economic Statement and Monday’s National Economic Dialogue;
• Social Policy matters, including the Civil Service Management Board Policy Handbook - A ‘Real World’ Guide to Policy Development (available here).
• EU and International matters, including the Taoiseach’s attendance at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which is taking place in France this week and preparation for the Taoiseach’s attendance at next week’s United Nations High Level Conference in New York.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Department end of April Vote Position and mid-year transfer of files to the National Archive;
• Wednesday’s Strategy Workshop Feedback presentation (am) and Departmental Council Meeting (pm).

——
Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 23rd June 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Émer Deane, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Elizabeth Canavan, Helen Blake.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• British and Northern Ireland matters, including recent British Irish Council and North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) Meetings;
• Preparation for the Taoiseach’s appearance before the Select and Joint Committees on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach on 9th July 2025;
• Economic matters, including recent Cabinet Committee on Water Quality;
• EU and International matters, including preparation for the Taoiseach’s attendance at European Council in Brussels this week and recent Cabinet Committee on EU and International Affairs;
• The Department's end of May 2025 Vote Position Report;
• Preparation of the Department's 2024 Annual Report and new Statement of Strategy;
• The Department's Children First Act Compliance Report.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments.

_____

Brian Keenan

Secretariat to MAC

Monday, 7th July 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Brian Keenan.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Preparation for the Taoiseach’s appearance before the Select and Joint Committees on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach on Wednesday;
• EU and International matters, including the Taoiseach’s four day visit to Japan last week and Monday’s call with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen;
• Economic matters, including the Competitiveness Summit in Government Buildings later that morning and preparations for Monday's Cabinet Committee on Climate Action, Environment and Energy;
• Social Policy matters, including preparation for Monday’s Cabinet Committee on Disability;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including NI Legacy matters;
• Preparation for the National Day of Commemoration on Sunday at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters including;

• Staff Assignments.

Brian Keenan

Secretariat to MAC

Monday, 21st July 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Brian Keenan.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Revised National Development Plan launch on Tuesday;
• The National Day of Commemoration with special thanks to staff involved in the successful preparation for and execution of this event;
• Recent Select and Joint Committees on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach with thanks to Divisions for providing briefing material;
• EU and International matters, including tariffs and preparation for the Taoiseach’s visit to Luxembourg on Thursday;
• Economic matters, including recent Competitiveness Summit, Cabinet Committee on The Economy, Trade and Competitiveness, Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure and Cabinet Committee on Climate Action, Environment and Energy;
• Social Policy matters, including recent Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs, Cabinet Committee Health and Cabinet Committee on Disability;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including preparation for the Taoiseach’s visit to Armagh on Tuesday and recent call with UK Prime Minister regarding NI Legacy matters;
• Department’s End June Vote Position and 2026 Estimates preparation.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Wednesday’s Quarterly Staff Meeting at 11am in Room 308;

Brian Keenan

Secretariat to MAC

Minutes of MAC Meeting

Monday, 28th July 2025

Present: John Callinan, John Shaw, Elizabeth Canavan, Helen Blake, Dermot Woods, Émer Deane, Mary Keenan.

Apologies: Brian Keenan.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• EU and International matters, including tariffs and the courtesy call of the US Ambassador on the Taoiseach later that morning;
• Economic matters, including the publication last week of the updated National Development Plan and Summer Economic Statement, and the Offshore Renewable Energy Forum taking place later that day;
• Preparation of the Department's 2024 Annual Report and new Statement of Strategy; and
• 2026 Estimates preparation.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters including;

• Staff Assignments.

——
Mary Keenan

Rúnaí Cúnta | Assistant Secretary

Tuesday, 2nd September 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Mary Keenan, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Helen Blake, John Shaw.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Taosieach’s meeting on Monday with representatives of Faith and Non-Confessional Groups in Government Buildings;
• Social Policy matters, including preparation for Wednesday’s Cabinet Committee on Children and Education;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including NI Legacy matters and preparation for the 2025 British-Irish Association Conference in Oxford on 5-7 September;
• EU and International matters, including the Taoiseach’s phone call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine on Monday;
• Economic matters, including preparation for Wednesday’s Cabinet Committee on Housing;
• Finalisation of the Department’s 2024 Annual Report;
• Preparation of the Department's new Statement of Strategy;
• Preparation of the Department's 2026 Estimate; and
• Preparations for the Department's move to the National Shared Services Office’s Finance Shared Service at end September 2025.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters including;

• Staff Assignments.

Brian Keenan

Secretariat to MAC

Monday, 8th September 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, Helen Blake, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Brian Keenan.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Social Policy matters, including preparation for Thursday’s Child Poverty and Well-being Submit;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including update from last weekend’s British-Irish Association Conference and preparation for this week's visit of the Taoiseach to London;
• Preparation of the Department's new Statement of Strategy;
• Preparation of the Department's 2026 Estimate;
• Update on move to the National Shared Services Office’s Finance Shared Service at end September 2025; and
• Survey on Climate Action initiatives in the Department.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• 2026 SPS Strategic Leadership Programme; and
• Wednesday’s Departmental Council Meeting.

Brian Keenan

Secretariat to MAC

Monday, 22nd September 2025

Present: John Callinan, Dermot Woods, Elizabeth Canavan, Émer Deane, John Shaw, Mary Keenan, Brian Keenan.

Apologies: Helen Blake.

MAC discussed a number of issues, including;

• Taoiseach’s attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and visit to Canada this week;
• Economic matters, including Offshore Renewable Energy and Budget 2026;
• Social Policy matters, including the North East Inner City and Child Poverty;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including NI Legacy matters and preparation for Department officials' appearance before the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement on Tuesday;
• EU and International matters, including preparation for next week’s Informal European Council Meeting and European Political Community Meeting and the Taoiseach's upcoming meeting with Commissioner Šefčovič; and
• Financial Management, including the Department’s 2026 Estimates Submission; End of July and End of August Vote Position and Expenditure Management Reports; and update on move to the National Shared Services Office’s Finance Shared Service.

MAC also discussed a number of staffing and related matters, including;

• Staff Assignments;
• Spring 2026 National Experts in Professional Training (NEPT) programme.

Brian Keenan

Secretariat to MAC