Sir, – I fully share Cormac Meehan’s view that the nomination of Ireland’s next EU commissioner should not be a consolation prize for political failure (May 31st).
Instead, I believe Ireland’s next EU commissioner should be directly elected by the Irish people. What would be required would be for the Government to hold an election and to undertake to nominate the candidate chosen by the people. This would in no way contravene existing European treaties as the actual nomination would still be formally made by the Taoiseach. It would simply be a way for the Taoiseach to ask the people whom they wished him to nominate.
One advantage of this arrangement would be that it would be extremely difficult for the EU Council of Ministers, the incoming European Commission president and the European Parliament to reject the people’s choice, which is, of course, why it probably won’t happen. Nevertheless, I think the Government should give it a try. Who knows, it might even catch on in other countries if someone sets the example. – Yours, etc,
ED KELLY,
Keswick Road,
St Helens,
Merseyside,
England.