Ireland risks losing EU influence due to retirements

Ireland is facing a serious challenge regarding its influence in the European Union. The Department of Foreign Affairs warned that the country may become “significantly underrepresented” in the European Commission due to the upcoming retirements of senior Irish officials. Almost one-third of Irish staff in the commission are expected to retire in the next four years. However, very few new Irish officials are entering at the entry level. This situation raises concerns about Ireland's ability to shape EU policy effectively. Recent internal briefings highlighted that recruitment at the higher levels is not being matched by new appointments. For every four retired officials, only one has been successfully recruited to replace them. The lack of Irish representation at different levels of the commission could complicate efforts to increase participation in the future. While there have been more Irish language translators and interpreters since Irish became an EU official language, these roles do not engage in policymaking. This means the increase in linguists doesn't solve the broader problem of underrepresentation among Irish officials in decision-making roles. Currently, there are over 30,500 staff members in the EU Commission, with only 513 from Ireland. There is also concern that language requirements and a competitive recruitment process deter potential Irish candidates. Many graduates are opting for jobs in the private sector instead of pursuing careers in the commission. Former Minister of State for Europe, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, noted that Ireland is one of 11 EU countries where its citizens are underrepresented in entry-level positions. She suggested that the commission should consider creating nationality-based recruitment competitions to improve Irish representation. In her correspondence, she emphasized the importance of balancing domestic needs with long-term investment in EU representation. The letter and internal briefings were shared with the media following a public records request.