Top civil servant moved as officials plan for Sinn Féin election success

In an interview in 2022, Mary Lou McDonald said tackling the 'constipated' public and civil service would be one of the biggest challenges for Sinn Féin in government. Picture: Oliver McVeigh/PA

A top civil servant is to be moved to focus on Northern Ireland matters ahead of a general election which could see Sinn Féin claim power across the island of Ireland.

Senior officials have now started planning for the fallout of the next general election, which could see Mary Lou McDonald elected as Taoiseach, given the party's support in the polls.

It is understood officials across a number of departments including Foreign Affairs, Justice, Finance and Taoiseach's are conscious that an election could see a shift in government policy in areas such as wealth taxes and a greater urgency around a border poll.

Ms McDonald recently said that she believes a united Ireland is within "touching distance".

Sinn Féin's stance in relation to Spain and the push for Catalan independence as well as its call to expel the Israeli ambassador have also been noted.

The Irish Examiner understands that highly respected Deputy Secretary General Sonja Hyland is to take over responsibility of the Northern Ireland, Britain, and US brief from September. This is seen as one of the most crucial positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Ms Hyland currently holds the role of political director in the department and has been the lead official advising on middle east issues, including the situation in Israel and Gaza.

While a number of sources stressed that the very nature of the Department of Foreign Affairs means that staff are rotated, one added that "it's no accident" that Ms Hyland is moving to the Northern Ireland brief.

Officials are aware that this is a "delicate time" and a change of Government might result in very high expectations of change among certain parts of the population.

Describing her as "gold dust" one source said: "I'm not sure who you would find who would be better to lead it." Asked about Ms Hyland, another senior source said: "She is world class, she would be regarded very very highly both in Ireland and internationally."

Another contentious issue could be Sinn Féin's position in relation to Catalonia, which sources have warned could lead to friction between the Irish and Spanish Governments.

One senior minister asked: "What happens when Mary Lou McDonald goes into her first EU Council meeting and the Spanish PM refuses to shake her hand because she is the party who wants to break up his country?"

A spokesperson for the department said the role of the department and broader civil service is to fully support the government of the day to develop and implement its policies, both at home and abroad.

"Responsibilities at management board level within the Department of Foreign Affairs are assigned by the Secretary General and, with regular rotations in postings overseas, usually involve a number of new appointments each summer. Changes in roles effective from next summer have been communicated internally within the Department."

In an interview with the Irish Examiner in 2022, Mary Lou McDonald said tackling the "constipated" public and civil service would be one of the biggest challenges for Sinn Féin in government.

While recognising the "immense talent" in our civil service, she said the system "needs to be jolted into more efficient actions."

Later that year, the party's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin was also forced to apologise directly to chief economist in the Department of Finance, John McCarthy when he said he should be sacked.