It was unlikely Ireland would be punished by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen over a dispute around the nomination of the next EU commissioner, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said.
The Government has insisted it will nominate only former minister for finance Michael McGrath as the country’s next EU commissioner, despite a request from Ms von der Leyen for member states to put forward the names of a man and a woman for her to pick from.
Ms von der Leyen, who recently secured a second term at the top of the European Commission, on Thursday wrote to governments seeking their nominations for commissioners.
The letter from the senior EU politician asked countries to propose at least two names, with one being a woman, to allow Ms von der Leyen to get a gender balance in the team of commissioners.
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Speaking in Paris, Mr Harris said it would have been “unfair” to ask Mr McGrath to step down from Cabinet for a “50-50″ chance of becoming the next Irish commissioner. “President von der Leyen is well aware of the Irish Government’s position in relation to our own nomination,” he said.
The Fine Gael leader said he did not think Ireland would face any “punishment” from Ms von der Leyen, when the German decided what commissioner portfolio to give to Mr McGrath.
“I know president von der Leyen to be a very serious, competent and a fair politician ... I know from my conversation with her that she will assess the suitability of commissioners for portfolios based on their background, based on their CV, based on interviews that she will carry out,” he said.
Ireland is pursuing a finance-related commissioner role, but is facing intense competition from several other countries also chasing one of the handful of finance briefs.
“Michael McGrath has had to step down from Cabinet, that’s a pretty profound thing for him to have to do. I think it would be an unfair thing for him to have to do and then tell him he has a 50-50 chance of getting a role at the end of it,” Mr Harris said.
It had been important that Mr McGrath could step down to focus on the commission job, and a new minister for finance could be brought in to prepare for the coming budget in October, he said. Mr Harris added there was “an understanding” at European level of the Government’s decision.
Further compounding Ireland’s uphill lobbying efforts for a prominent portfolio is the fact that Fianna Fáil’s four MEPs opposed Ms von der Leyen getting a second term in a recent European Parliament confirmation vote.
“It’s a matter for Fianna Fáil MEPs to account for their own actions, not me, but as the Taoiseach I am satisfied we have sent a politician of substance in Michael McGrath,” Mr Harris said.
EU countries have until August 30th to respond to the commission president’s request for nominations, following which Ms von der Leyen will interview candidates before allocating portfolios.
