Public Affairs Ireland | Training and Development | Conferences
The Trusted Provider of Specialist Professional Learning and Development
This live and online webinar will discuss how the Protected Disclosures Act (as amended) continues to impact legal, HR, governance, and reputational issues.
Captivate your audience with PAI's ultimate training for Powerful Public Speaking.
PAI are delighted to announce an extraordinary opportunity for you to enhance your public speaking and presentation skills thought an immersive, live training experience. Get ready to unleash your full potential as a speaker at our highly anticipated Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Training Seminar, taking place in person from the Grand Canal Hotel, Dublin 4.
This highly interactive and practical workshop will equip team leaders and managers with the skills required to develop and implement negotiation strategies that are critical to generating successful outcomes and enhancing team collaboration.
The Government's recently published Risk Statement signals an important shift in how the Irish public sector is encouraged to think about risk in the delivery of major public investment and public services. It recognises that while managing risk remains fundamental to good governance, delay itself carries significant economic, social and environmental costs. The Government has set out a framework for acceptable risk. The challenge for public sector leaders is translating that framework into confident, proportionate decision-making. Moving from acceptable risk to accepting risk is not simply a policy challenge—it is a leadership challenge. The more difficult question is whether changing policy is enough to change behaviour—or whether lasting change also depends on leadership, organisational culture, governance and confidence in decision-making. For many public servants, the challenge has never been simply one of risk appetite. It is about balancing competing risks—delivery risk, financial risk, legal risk, reputational risk and public accountability—while making timely, proportionate and evidence-based decisions.
PAI’s intensive one-day programme equips journalists with the essential skills to report confidently from court, navigate legal constraints, and deliver accurate, compliant, and compelling stories. Led by our legal expert and experienced court reporter, this session covers court structures, media law, privacy rules, reporting restrictions, and best practices for live and digital coverage.
This interactive, story-driven session is designed for professionals who are called on to moderate interviews, chair discussions, or facilitate knowledge-sharing across sectors. Whether you’re preparing for a high-profile public event, an internal panel, or a community conversation, you’ll learn how to craft a compelling narrative, ask the right questions, and listen with intention—all while managing your nerves and maintaining flow.
Enhance your expertise in Strategic Public Procurement with PAI’s 8-day certificate programme. Designed for public sector professionals, this programme combines expert insights, practical case studies, and the latest strategies in procurement law, sustainability, and social responsibility.
This programme is aligned with the updated Capability Framework Overview. This framework supports the key grades in building a diverse and talented workforce for the future, capable of collaboratively delivering excellence on behalf of civil and public service.
This online course provides an introduction to, and grounding in, the main aspects of the legislation as well as the grounds for non-disclosure.
As well as sharing an FOI body practitioner’s experience, it will include a case study in how to apply the Act in a practical context, and take a look at the role of the Information Commissioner and the courts on appeal. It is designed to be a practical and focused course for any public servant involved in the provision of information to the public.
Clear and courteous communication remains vital to collaboration, team morale, and productivity, whether in-person or working remotely. This is a practical workshop, focusing on everyday communication in the workplace being conducted in a respectful, inclusive, and professional way.
Are you applying for a promotion or a new role in the public sector? If so, you will be interested in attending a one-to-one interview coaching session.
PAI’s certificate in HR management is designed for HR professionals and people managers to develop their knowledge and skills to deliver results through people in their organisations. The environment in which public sector HR professionals and people managers operate is complex and constantly changing. The demands on HR have increased in this changing environment of hybrid working and increasing talent shortages. And the environment continues to change, in areas such as employment law and codes of practice.
This highly practical one day workshop will give managers and staff the skills and confidence to write successfully in plain English – and to prepare for the new rules. We have successfully delivered this course to managers and staff in many government departments and agencies – focusing on web content, letters, emails, guidelines, leaflets and reports.
Strong governance is essential for public sector integrity, accountability, and efficiency. In light of Ireland’s evolving compliance landscape, our Corporate Governance Programme provides the critical knowledge and tools to navigate complex frameworks and drive lasting value for your organisation.
Technology & AI is designed as part of a progressive procurement capability pathway and builds upon foundational learning provided through core public procurement programmes. This course focuses on developing practical, applied skills relevant to the medium complexity level and is suitable for both procurement professionals and business stakeholders.
Judicial review is the process by which courts assess the actions of the executive and legislative branches to ensure they comply with the constitution or other legal standards. For government bodies or state authorities, this means that their decisions and actions are subject to judicial scrutiny to confirm their legality and adherence to proper procedures.
This advanced, certified online course in GDPR is a practical and focused course, designed for any public servant involved in the provision of information to the public.
This masterclass will equip you with the tools and strategies needed to facilitate meetings that drive results. You will learn how to create effective agendas, manage discussions, address challenges, and ensure actionable outcomes. The course will also include practical tips to help you confidently facilitate meetings, whether they are in-person, hybrid, or virtual.
Tender Management is designed as part of a progressive procurement capability pathway and builds upon foundational learning provided through core public procurement programmes. This course focuses on developing practical, applied skills relevant to the medium complexity level and is suitable for both procurement professionals and business stakeholders.
Public service transformation doesn't happen through policy alone. Government has set an ambitious vision for a more capable, innovative and responsive public service. Across Ireland, organisations are investing in leadership, workforce capability, digital transformation
and organisational development to deliver better public services and improve outcomes for citizens. But capability alone doesn't deliver transformation. People do. Transformation only happens when people have the confidence to adopt new ways of thinking, leading and working. And confidence is built on trust.
This half day seminar, led by one of PAI's expert legal trainers, will explore the existing statutory legal family leave entitlements in the workplace, including legislation allowing family leave entitlements for a relevant parent and what the statutory duties of the employer are when it comes to employee leave.
This Climate Action Leadership Training is structured into four comprehensive modules, each delving into key areas of climate action and leadership. All senior management personnel (PO level or equivalent and above) are mandated to complete Climate Action Leadership Training under the Climate Action Plan.
This programme equips public sector managers, finance officers, procurement professionals, and project leads with the knowledge and tools to effectively manage third-party spend and capital budgets across the full project lifecycle.
Cyber security has become one of the defining leadership and governance challenges facing the Irish public sector.
From increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks and AI-enabled threats to new European legislation and growing concerns around digital sovereignty, senior leaders are being asked to make decisions that extend far beyond traditional IT and information security.
Recent events—including the Irish Times investigation into software used within Irish State agencies—have reinforced the importance of understanding not only how organisations respond to cyber incidents, but also how they assess the technologies, suppliers and digital infrastructure they rely upon.
This programme is aligned with the updated Capability Framework Overview. This framework supports the key grades in building a diverse and talented workforce for the future, capable of collaboratively delivering excellence on behalf of civil and public service.
This popular half day online programme provides HR professionals, line managers and other employees interested in this topic, with the knowledge and understanding they need to support neurodivergent workers, from a HR and legal perspective.
This programme provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving role and use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the public sector, with a particular focus on governance, transparency, and Freedom of Information (FOI) obligations.
Market Research is designed as part of a progressive procurement capability pathway and builds upon foundational learning provided through core public procurement programmes. This course focuses on developing practical, applied skills relevant to the medium complexity level and is suitable for both procurement professionals and business stakeholders.
A key skill required of many people, including those working in or newly introduced to a financial role, is the ability to understand key financial statements.
All organisations produce some form of financial statements, and most people will, at some point in their careers, have a need to be able to read and understand these.
Our Certificate in Effective Leadership is designed specifically for public sector professionals like you who are ready to step into or enhance their leadership role. Whether you're already in a leadership position or preparing to take on more responsibility, this programme will provide the insights, tools, and strategies you need to thrive.
Ireland's first cross-sector programme dedicated to developing the regulatory profession.
Developed using the UK's Core Regulatory Skills Framework and adapted for the Irish regulatory environment.
Today's regulators operate in an environment characterised by technological disruption, increasing public expectations, evolving policy priorities and growing scrutiny of regulatory decisions. Regulatory professionals are expected to exercise sound judgement, apply regulatory powers proportionately, make evidence-based decisions and deliver effective outcomes while maintaining public trust and confidence.
While many regulatory staff possess significant technical and sectoral expertise, there is growing recognition of the need to develop the professional capabilities required for modern regulatory practice.
This online Pre-Retirement Planning course will provide you with the information and support you need to look to the future with confidence.
CPP is designed as part of a progressive procurement capability pathway and builds upon foundational learning provided through core public procurement programmes. This course focuses on developing practical, applied skills relevant to the medium complexity level and is suitable for both procurement professionals and business stakeholders.
This year, PAI’s Corporate Governance Conference will bring together public sector board members, senior leaders, policymakers, governance professionals, audit and risk committee members, and digital transformation teams to examine the key challenges shaping governance in 2026.
The conference will explore the shift from policies, frameworks and compliance towards stronger resilience, integrated assurance and measurable public outcomes. Through expert insights and practical discussion, attendees will hear how public bodies can govern AI and digital services responsibly, consider acceptable risk appetite to support effective decision-making across the public service, strengthen compliance and assurance in a leadership context and maintain public trust in an increasingly digital and ever-changing corporate landscape.
Our expert panel will explore and reflect on the current and evolving challenges facing organisations in the current climate and inspire meaningful dialogue while outlining key changes to help empower organisations and help them to navigate a continuously evolving field.
This programme is aligned with the updated Capability Framework Overview. This framework supports the key grades in building a diverse and talented workforce for the future, capable of collaboratively delivering excellence on behalf of civil and public service.
The need for clear and accurate minutes has never been more critical. Join our practical workshop to gain the skills and confidence to take precise, effective minutes that capture key decisions and actions, ensuring clarity for both attendees and those unable to attend.
This 3 day course will provide public sector employees with the essential knowledge and skills in public financial procedures and control. It will build skills and competence in important and essential aspects of financial management.
In today’s fast-paced, information-rich environment, report writing is more than just a documentation exercise…. it’s a strategic communication skill. This one-day workshop equips professionals with the tools to write reports that are clear, compelling, and drive action. Participants will explore how to structure information for maximum impact, tell powerful stories with data, and present written insights in a way that informs, influences, and inspires.
This training aims to equip new and existing Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) members with the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfil their roles effectively. Participants will gain a clear understanding of public sector governance requirements, ARC responsibilities, and practical approaches to managing risk, evaluating internal audit processes, and ensuring compliance with governance codes.
This two-day course will demonstrate how to effectively apply best practice public procurement processes to ensure compliance while also delivering optimal value, service, quality, innovation and reduced risk for your organisation.
The development of public policy is a key responsibility of the Government and remains a key focus for public servants across all sectors. This accredited programme provides practical guidance and background knowledge to enable participants to grasp and understand policy development and delivery. It has been designed to provide participants with both the theoretical foundations and practical application skills required for modern public policy development.
This programme (running over two half days) is designed to provide public sector professionals with a practical and accessible understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI), AI Literacy, and the organisational responsibilities associated with AI adoption within modern working environments.
This programme is aligned with the updated Capability Framework Overview. This framework supports the key grades in building a diverse and talented workforce for the future, capable of collaboratively delivering excellence on behalf of civil and public service.
The programme is grounded in real-world public sector challenges and aligns with Irish procurement practice, including OGP guidance and EU Classic and Utilities Directives. Participants will explore how the discipline supports decision-making, governance and value delivery across the procurement lifecycle.
This workshop will help you understand and fulfil your role as an interviewer working on a Public Sector Interview Board (or Interview Panel) who is interviewing based on the new Civil Service Capability Framework.
The aim of this half day seminar is to give participants a platform to explore how they manage their time. It will give an appreciation of how time, when proactively managed, can be used to achieve personal and organisational objectives more efficiently and effectively.
This workshop uses a variety of authentic material and is suitable for anyone who would like to ensure that all of their written material is correct and consistent.
Transformation is designed as part of a progressive procurement capability pathway and builds upon foundational learning provided through core public procurement programmes. This course focuses on developing practical, applied skills relevant to the high complexity level and is suitable for both procurement professionals and business stakeholders.
This course is intended to introduce the fundamentals of the GDPR. The comprehensive structured approach to training provides practical, in-depth understanding of the scope, core concepts, principles and requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation.
This one-day masterclass is designed to give an overview of the current trends and best practices in project management. This practical masterclass is focused on teaching the fundamental project management techniques and skills for organising and managing all size projects.
Change leadership helps organisations to transition smoothly during periods of change—whether it's new technology, restructuring, updated processes, or cultural shifts. This programme for public sector leaders is designed for leaders with the aim to support, lead out on and deliver the change needed to enable the successful implementation of organisational strategy.
The new Infrastructure Guidelines came into operation on 1 January 2024. They replace the previous Public Spending Code. PAI’s panel of expert speakers will cover the evaluation tools through a blend of lectures, case-studies and question-and answer sessions.
At the end of the seminar, participants will have a good understanding of how the Infrastructure Guidelines should be applied in their workplace.
This programme is aligned with the updated Capability Framework Overview. This framework supports the key grades in building a diverse and talented workforce for the future, capable of collaboratively delivering excellence on behalf of civil and public service.
This seminar will take you through the contract process and will provide good foundational knowledge for both the drafting and reading of contracts.
This half day online seminar will give attendees the opportunity to learn about the Regulatory Impact Assessment process at a basic level. RIAs were first introduced in 2005. Since then, Government Departments and Offices have been required to conduct RIAs on proposals for primary legislation that involve changes to the regulatory framework.
This one-day online training course will focus on the requirements for processing a request. It will examine the application of certain exemptions, the appeals process, procedural issues, key OCEI decisions and more. Participants will leave the course with a much more advanced understanding of the AIE Regulations.
Gain the foundational knowledge you need to award and monitor your grants and cooperative agreements effectively from pre-award through to project closeout. This 3-day online programme is designed for employees of Government bodies that award and/or oversee grants and cooperative agreements, including grant management specialists, grants officials, project officers, governance officials and procurement professionals.
Building on the success of our 2025 event, PAI’s Strategic Public Procurement Conference 2026 returns as a strengthened, more connected forum, bringing together a growing network of procurement leaders, policy makers, legal experts and industry partners who are acting as real change champions across the public sector.
This is more than a conference…It is a joined-up strategic think tank for public procurement transformation, designed to share lived experience, practical solutions and tested approaches from across the system. Public sector professionals will learn directly from the successes and challenges faced by peers, gaining tangible takeaways, tools and insights that can be applied immediately to Get It Done.
This one-day interactive workshop equips leaders with practical frameworks to align strategic vision with evidence-based decision making. Participants will explore how to translate policy intent into clear strategic priorities, use data and insights to inform key decisions, and lead a culture that values evidence, accountability, and learning.
This masterclass will grant attendees the skills required when interacting and working closely with legislative updates and will offer a detailed outline on the legislative process and drafting while also providing a detailed look at the structure of legislation.
It is critical that HR professionals are aware of the requirements of data protection regulations and process personal data accordingly. It is also essential that they are ware what to do if a breach of this information occurs in the workplace, how to recognise a breach and who to contact.
ESG & Sustainability is designed as part of a progressive procurement capability pathway and builds upon foundational learning provided through core public procurement programmes. This course focuses on developing practical, applied skills relevant to the medium complexity level and is suitable for both procurement professionals and business stakeholders.
This training workshop will equip participants with the knowledge and skills they need to ensure equality in the interview selection process. The workshop is delivered through a range of practical exercises and case studies.
Effective telephone techniques is important for several reasons, especially in professional settings. It helps individuals develop clear and effective communication skills, ensuring that messages are conveyed accurately and understood by the caller. For roles involving customer interactions, such as customer service representatives or support staff, effective telephone communication is crucial.
As a HR professional, a lot of work involves providing advice and training on good practice employee relations to public sector HR professionals. Most grievance, disciplinary and dignity at work policies emphasise the importance of early interventions and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation. However the reality is that grievances, dignity at work and disciplinary issues often escalate to the formal stage of a policy where issues or conflict cannot be resolved informally.
The course equips FOI Decision Makers and Internal Reviewers with the skills, knowledge and competencies needed to take a pragmatic approach and focus on practical FOI tasks using the relevant law and guidelines. Participants get the opportunity to share their own experiences and get a valuable insight into issues highlighted by an expert in the field, as well as an understanding of best practice.
The aim of this course is to provide public servants with the information, knowledge and competencies in the area of public law so that they have the ability to fulfil their roles and securing an accredited qualification following a condensed and focused course. The course will take a practical approach, focusing on the key legal principles, but applying them to everyday situations.
Green Public Procurement offers public bodies a means to lead sustainable development in their sector, engaging suppliers to reduce the environmental impacts across their product and service life cycles; developing the circular economy and reducing costs to Public Bodies.
Writing is an essential feature of many jobs. Whether you write emails to customers, reports for publication, content for website, or marketing materials, the ability to write clearly, concisely and professionally is a vital skill. In this highly practical workshop, a professional writer shares their expertise – to ensure you take away the tools and confidence to write effectively at work.
Category Management is designed as part of a progressive procurement capability pathway and builds upon foundational learning provided through core public procurement programmes. This course focuses on developing practical, applied skills relevant to the high complexity level and is suitable for both procurement professionals and business stakeholders.
Transform your approach to data leadership with this comprehensive program designed specifically for public sector professionals. This course moves beyond technology implementation to focus on the strategic, cultural, and leadership dimensions of data management that drive real organisational success.
Supply Chain & SRM is designed as part of a progressive procurement capability pathway and builds upon foundational learning provided through core public procurement programmes. This course focuses on developing practical, applied skills relevant to the high complexity level and is suitable for both procurement professionals and business stakeholders.
Today’s legal professionals are no longer just interpreters of the law. They are trusted advisers, helping organisations navigate complexity, manage risk and enable confident, legally robust decision-making. PAI’s Public Sector Legal Forum 2026 brings together legal professionals from Government Departments, Local Authorities, State Agencies, Regulators and the wider public service to explore the cross-cutting issues shaping today’s public legal practice. Through practical case studies, expert insights and peer discussion, delegates will examine how to balance legal risk with organisational priorities, strengthen governance, embrace artificial intelligence responsibly and deliver advice that supports better public outcomes.
Tender Strategy is designed as part of a progressive procurement capability pathway and builds upon foundational learning provided through core public procurement programmes. This course focuses on developing practical, applied skills relevant to the high complexity level and is suitable for both procurement professionals and business stakeholders.
Low Value RFQ is designed as part of a progressive procurement capability pathway and builds upon foundational learning provided through core public procurement programmes. This course focuses on developing practical, applied skills relevant to the low complexity level and is suitable for both procurement professionals and business stakeholders.