Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

no big rush

Just one in four of Ireland's key Brexit positions have been filled so far

Only 13 of 50 new Brexit roles created at Irish State agencies have been recruited.

Mary Mitchell O Connor 758A0323_90511756 Minister for Jobs Mary Mitchell O'Connor Eamonn Farrell Eamonn Farrell

ONLY A QUARTER of key State positions concerning the processing of Brexit have been filled, it has emerged, nearly eight months after they were created in last October’s budget.

The roles in question are to be filled by the Department of Jobs to deal with the fallout from Great Britain leaving the EU.

In answer to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil Brexit spokesman Stephen Donnelly, the Department said that just 12 of 39 roles in Enterprise Ireland have been filled, one in 10 at the Industrial Development Authority (IDA), and no additional staff are in place at either Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) or the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).

“The Government committed to providing an additional  50 posts to prepare Ireland for Brexit, but now we find that only 13 staff are actually in place,” Donnelly said.

The Irish Exporters Association recently described Irish businesses as being ‘woefully unprepared’ for Brexit. Despite 15 in 20 companies believing that they will be impacted, only three in 20 have done anything about it.
Unfortunately the State itself is not leading by example as it is leaving key posts unfilled as we head towards Brexit.

The Department of Jobs was allocated €3 million regarding the 50 additional staff in last October’s budget, with the vast majority of that figure going to Enterprise Ireland (€1.7 million).

In replying to Donnelly, the Department said that the remaining unfilled positions are “actively being sourced through recruitment processes”.

A dedicated ‘Brexit division’, comprising four officers, has been created within the Department of Jobs with a pay budget of €250,000.

Read: Parents may no longer have a ‘moral duty’ to provide for children in wills

Read: German and Italian airlines’ losses will be Ryanair’s gain as it orders more planes

Your Voice
Readers Comments
5
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.