About Us

Our mission is to foster, encourage and meet the need for a culture of continuous or lifelong learning in the public service in Ireland and abroad. Lifelong learning is about developing a lifelong curiosity and that curiosity can be fed in a number of ways, including formal education courses, training updates, reading, networking through attending at relevant conferences and events, developing leadership skills, etc.

Public Affairs Ireland (PAI) was established in 2002. It consists of three main divisions, Education and Training, Publications and Conferences. Our purpose is to drive professional development and improvement through these different formats. We have an informal network of member organisations that in return for an annual subscription receive a number of services which are available throughout the member/subscriber organisation, including reduced prices to our education and training courses.

Three of our directors are former public officials and have some 70 years experience between them in the public service. We empathise with the values, ethical requirements and pressure to ensure value for money at all times in the modern public service. We operate in accordance with a public interest philosophy and are developing research and development skills aimed at providing cutting edge bespoke offerings which will have application in Ireland and abroad through a number of channels, including digital publishing and e-learning.

We recognise the constant pressure on public servants to achieve value for money and to become ever more productive, efficient and effective in their work. We aim to inspire and promote excellence across our customer base. Transforming public services is an ongoing exercise which will yield results if accompanied by appropriate and targeted training and other support services.

Member organisations receive significant benefits including organisation-wide distribution of the monthly Public Affairs Ireland journal and the weekly Oireachtas Update, reduced prices for training seminars, courses and conferences together with access to our archives of hundreds of relevant articles on issues about the public interest. Please click here to become a member organisation of our Public Affairs Ireland informal network.

Public Affairs Ireland operates from 25 Mountjoy Square, Dublin, one of the 42 surviving original buildings of the Mountjoy Square developed by the Gardiner Estate between 1793 and 1818. The main building retains original features such as the Portland stone floating stairs and arched recesses, as well as particularly fine plasterwork. Public Affairs Ireland is continuing the restoration work started by previous owners and is adapting the building to meet the needs of a state-of-the-art training centre. Facilities include 6 training rooms in the main building and a modern annex, breakout rooms, media rooms, cafeteria, restaurant, research facilities and library.