MAC Minutes 2026

Monday, 12th January 2026

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

MAC discussed a number of issues, including:

• EU and International matters, including the Taoiseach's recent visit to China and preparations for the Taoiseach's attendance at next week's World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland;
• Return of Dáil Eireann on Tuesday and scheduling of Cabinet Committees for first half of 2026;
• Social Policy matters, including migration and health-related matters;
• Economic matters;
• 2026 expenditure profiling; and
• 2026 Business Planning Cycle.

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

• Staff Assignments;
• Upcoming Internal Higher Executive Officer Competition;
• Annual ethics return obligations for designated staff; and
• 2026 Leadership Accelerator Programme.

Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 9th February 2026

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:

• National Emergency Co-ordination Group and response to recent flooding;
• EU and International matters, including the Taoiseach's recent attendance at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos and at a European Council Meeting on Greenland/tariffs and preparation for the Taoiseach's attendance at an European Council meeting on Competitiveness in Brussels later in the week;
• Social Policy matters, including preparation for this week's Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs and update on health-related matters;
• Economic matters, including preparation for this week's Cabinet Committee on Housing and Cabinet Committee on Climate Action, Environment and Energy and preparation for Wednesday's meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including preparation for the Taoiseach's trip to London and Cambridge next week;
• Preparations for the Taoiseach's attendance at the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach on the 2026 Revised Estimates for the Department's Vote Group on 26 February 2026;
• Recent visits by Secretaries General of Government Departments to Brussels (pre EU Presidency Planning) and London (annual meeting with UK Permanent Secretaries);
• 2026 Better Public Services Awards (formerly Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Awards) with deadline for applications of 27 February 2026.

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

• Staff Assignments;
• Update on Internal Higher Executive Officer Competition;
• North East Inner City TY Work Experience Programme taking place in the Department this week.

Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 2nd March 2026

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:

• EU and International matters, including the situation in the Middle-East, the Taoiseach's recent attendance at an European Council meeting on Competitiveness in Brussels and the recent visit of the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, to Government Buildings;
• Social Policy matters, including disability, migration and health-related matters and last week's State apology to survivors of institutional abuse;
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including the Taoiseach's recent trip to London and Cambridge, and preparation for the upcoming Ireland-UK Summit;
• Recent Cabinet Committee meetings (7), including last week's Cabinet Committee on Climate Action, Environment and Energy, and preparations for upcoming Cabinet Committees on the Economy, Trade and Competitiveness, Health and Housing.
• Taoiseach's attendance at last week's Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach on the 2026 Revised Estimates for the Department's Vote Group; and
• Applications (2) for the 2026 Better Public Services Awards.

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

• Staff Assignments;
• Update on PMDS end of year review compliance;

Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer

Monday, 23rd March 2026

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

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 the situation in the Middle East, the recent inward visit of Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden, the Taoiseach's meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid and the Taoiseach's attendance at European Council Meeting in Brussels last week;
• Economic matters, including energy and fuel costs and recent Cabinet Committees on Housing and on the Economy, Trade and Competitiveness;
• Social Policy matters, including migration and the recent Cabinet Committee on Health; and
• British and Northern Ireland matters, including the recent Ireland-UK Summit in Cork.

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

• Staff Assignments;
• Update on the recent meeting of Departmental Council, PMDS end of year review compliance, Annual Staff Disability Census 2026 and Wednesday's Coffee morning to support Daffodil Day.

Brian Keenan

Personnel Officer