Ireland is unlikely to be penalised by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over a dispute over the nomination of the next EU commissioner, the Irish Times reports.
The government insists it will only nominate former finance minister Michael McGrath as the next EU commissioner, despite Ms. von der Leyen’s request for member states to put forward the names of a man and a woman to choose from.
Ms. von der Leyen, who recently won a second term as head of the European Commission, on Thursday asked governments to nominate candidates for commissioner.
The top EU politician’s letter asked countries to nominate at least two candidates, with one of them being a woman, so that Ms von der Leyen can achieve gender balance in the team of commissioners.
Speaking in Paris, Taoiseach Simon Harris said it would be “unfair” to ask Mr. McGrath to leave the cabinet for a “50/50” chance of becoming the next Irish commissioner. He added:
President von der Leyen is well aware of the Irish Government’s position in relation to our own nomination.
The Fine Gael leader said he did not think Ireland would face any “punishment” from Ms. von der Leyen when the German decides which commissioner’s portfolio to give to Mr. McGrath. He added:
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.
Ireland is vying for the role of finance commissioner, but faces stiff competition from several other countries also vying for one of the few finance posts. Mr. Harris noted:
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.
He said it was important that Mr. McGrath resigns to focus on his work in the commission and a new finance minister was appointed to prepare for the upcoming budget in October. Mr. alsoHarris added that at the European level there was ‘an understanding’ of the government’s decision.
Further compounding Ireland’s difficult efforts to lobby for the important portfolio is the fact that four Fianna Fáil MEPs opposed Mrs von der Leyen’s bid for a second term in a recent confirmation vote in the European Parliament. Mr. Harris said:
It’s a matter for Fianna Fail 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.
EU countries must respond to the commission president’s request for nominations by August 30, after which Ms. von der Leyen will interview the candidates and then distribute the portfolios.
