Mr David Byrne appears to be in line for one of two middle-ranking portfolios in the European Commission, with speculation centring on posts dealing with the internal market or consumer affairs.
The Taoiseach confirmed yesterday he had two particular posts in mind when he chose Mr Byrne as the Government's nominee to the new European Commission.
Mr Ahern would not say which portfolios he had in mind. However, they "are not just important for the country but for the EU going into the 21st century".
Mr Ahern yesterday confirmed that Mr Byrne is to be Ireland's nominee to the Commission, saying that he was "losing a colleague of enormous experience". He also confirmed that the former Progressive Democrats TD and chairman, Mr Michael McDowell, is to be appointed attorney general to replace Mr Byrne.
Mr McDowell's remarkable change in political fortunes follows his decision to leave public life after he lost his Dail seat in 1997. He met Mr Ahern yesterday morning and in the afternoon, telling reporters he would strive to be "a good legal adviser to all the Government".
In response to a question as to his policy priorities, Mr McDowell said: "Policy is for ministers. I'm here to help."
Asked yesterday why he had chosen Mr Byrne ahead of the former minister, Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, Mr Ahern said: "I chose him over everyone, not just Maire Geoghegan-Quinn."
Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn, who is on holidays in Spain, was quoted in the Evening Herald yesterday as saying she had "no view" on whether the PDs had a role in her not getting the job. She said that once she heard Mr Byrne mentioned she thought it likely he would get the post.
The Opposition gave a cool reception to the nomination, with Mr Gay Mitchell of Fine Gael saying it resulted from "unseemly and time-wasting horse-trading". The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said Mr Byrne was "a political novice . . . unknown in Europe". The Green Party TD, Mr John Gormley, said Mr Byrne "lacks the necessary political experience at national and European level".
Mr Ahern indicated yesterday he was not interested in a financial portfolio for Mr Byrne, as the finances of the EU had been "tied down" firmly at the Berlin summit earlier this year. He also said agriculture was not available.
He said it was clear from his discussions with the Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi, that Mr Byrne's legal background "will allow him to have a more extensive role than we would normally look at".