Charlie McCreevy is to take on new responsibilities within the European Commission, deciding all competition cases that the competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes, cannot handle because of conflicts of interest.

A spokeswoman for Mr McCreevy confirmed yesterday that the Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, had asked Ireland's commissioner to assume the new powers this week.

As internal market commissioner, Mr McCreevy already commands one of the commission's most important portfolios.

Before she took office last year, Ms Kroes said she would not handle any competition cases involving companies where she had served as a board member.

The companies include shipping firm Rotal P&O Nedlloyd, defence firm Thales and the mobile phone company O2.

All mergers, antitrust and state aid investigations involving these companies have until now been handled by Mr Barroso himself.

MEPs will this week vote on a censure motion against Mr Barroso, accusing him of a conflict of interest after he accepted a holiday aboard a shipping magnate's yacht.

Mr McCreevy has held no job outside politics for many years and owns less than €1,000 worth of shares.