Donal gives us insight into his career as an Administrative Officer in the Department of Finance.
Please tell us a little bit about your role.
I work in a team that facilitates Ireland’s relationships with European Multilateral Development Banks, such as the EIB, the EBRD and the CEB, all of which Ireland is a shareholder. My role involves preparing advice to the Minister on issues that arise in the Banks, including investments, governance and staffing issues. As part of the role, I often attend meetings around the world on Ireland’s behalf.
What were your reasons for applying for your role?
The main reasons I wanted to apply to work in the Department of Finance would have to be the ability to help out the population of Ireland with problems that we face on a daily basis in any way I can and also to interact with the issues we see mentioned in the news and current affairs. Being able to help the public with these issues was a huge reason for me applying.
What do you value most about your job?
I greatly enjoy my ability to interact with people from all over the world with my travels for meetings as Ireland’s representative at the Banks aforementioned.
I also value the flexibility the job offers in me in regard to Annual leave, the blended working model and flexible hours which facilitate a life outside of work which is a huge benefit to me as an inter-county GAA player.
I am a huge fan of the impact I feel I can have on the Banks I work with in regard to implementing Irish foreign policy, also helping to guide decisions made by the Minister for Finance on Ireland’s behalf.
What are some of the benefits and supports available to you?
Some benefits that are available to me include travelling around the world as a representative of Ireland at these Development Bank meetings. The blended working model and flexi-leave are from working in the Department are very valuable and important to me.
What opportunities has this role provided for you?
I have been able to provide briefings to Irish Ambassadors based abroad in guiding their decisions at meetings in the CEB. I have had the opportunity to travel to Batumi in Georgia, Stockholm in Sweden and London in the UK to represent Ireland at meetings.
I have also been able to continue my inter-county GAA career outside of work with the supports that I mentioned above.
I have also had the great opportunity to partake in a continuous professional development course, one of a few that the Department offers to its civil servants. I also greatly enjoyed having the possibility to partake in help around the annual budget, while being present in Dáil Éireann.
What has surprised you since starting this role?
I have been surprised about the travelling opportunities that have been afforded to me, future opportunities to work in these Banks and other international institutions, the flexibility with the work and definitely the calibre of individuals and the degree of professionalism that they demonstrate in work.
What aspect of the role do you particularly enjoy?
I enjoy being able to aid in Government decision-making with Ireland’s foreign affairs policy with projects and issues that arise at the development banks surrounding topical geopolitical issues like Ukraine, the housing crisis, and also climate change.
It is also interesting to see work that I interact with on a daily basis in the news and on social media to know that I have aided in that.
I also enjoy the opportunity to facilitate in the process of attempting to change Irish legislation to reflect the needs of government in response to Ukraine and in order for us to effectively and efficiently deal with the development banks aforementioned.
Would you recommend a career in the public sector and why?
I would absolutely recommend a career in the public service. I really value the ability to take on issues that the public and government have on a daily basis for the benefit of no private entity but for the taxpayer.
The people you work with are massively knowledgeable, helpful and professional in their work. And the managers are skilled in their management of people, tasks and potentially high-stress environments. From a brief stint I had in the private sector, the difference in public sector managers vs. private sector managers to effectively manage people is stark.