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LAST UPDATE | 4 Sep 2020
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN believes Ireland remains well placed to secure a substantive EU Commission portfolio having selected two “high calibre” candidates.
The Government named Mairead McGuinness and Andrew McDowell as Ireland’s nominees to fill the vacant EU Commissioner role earlier today.
The pair were put forward following the resignation of Phil Hogan last week in the aftermath of the ‘Golfgate’ controversy.
Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan discussed the issue in recent days and the matter was decided at a Cabinet meeting today.
Martin wrote to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to propose the nominations.
Von der Leyen had invited Ireland to nominate both a woman and a man in the interests of gender balance.
It has not been decided what portfolio Ireland’s next commissioner will hold amid speculation it could be allocated a less prestigious role.
There is no guarantee that Ireland will retain the Trade Commissioner position vacated by Hogan.
Von der Leyen will interview the nominees next week ahead of the successful candidate being formally appointed by the European Council.
But during a visit in Dublin on Friday, Martin expressed confidence that whoever succeeds Hogan will be given a top job.
“Given the quality of the candidates put forward I believe we can get a portfolio of substance and of quality,” he said.
Martin said both candidates put forward by the Government had “significant international expertise”.
“One is a vice president of the parliament, has strong recognition across the European institutions, well thought of,” he said.
“The other is a very senior economist, former vice president of the European Investment Bank so they will have significant attributes to bring to the table.”
He added: “Those two names were chosen because they are very able people of high calibre.”
Nominees congratulated
McGuinness is an MEP and vice president of the European Parliament and McDowell is former vice president of the European Investment Bank who served as a special advisor to Enda Kenny.
A government statement issued this afternoon said it “believes that both are candidates of the highest calibre, possessing the necessary competence, independence and European commitment to serve in the role of Commissioner with distinction”.
“In keeping with the provisions of the European Treaties, President von der Leyen will now consult with the European Parliament before the appointment of a new Commissioner is made by the Council, in common accord with the President of the Commission,” the statement said.
“The question of the allocation of roles within the Commission is also one for President von der Leyen. However, the government firmly believes that both candidates have demonstrated that they have experience, skills and capacity to serve and to make a contribution in the most demanding roles.”
The Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD has informed me of the nomination of @MaireadMcGMEP and @AMcDowell as the Irish candidates for the post of commissioner. I will interview them early next week on their qualifications for the job.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 4, 2020
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney had refused to rule himself out for the position earlier this week but the chances of his potential nomination declined as the week wore on.
Coveney wished the two candidates good luck in a tweet this afternoon.
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting today, Tánaitse Leo Varadkar said that Coveney “would have been a top class commissioner had he decided to go for it”.
“For Ireland and for the government I’m really glad he’s staying, he’s someone we need,” Varadkar added.
Somebody we need as we enter the next stage of Brexit, someone we need because of events in Northern Ireland and someone who I think the government needs to bring experience, maturity and stability. So I’m really glad he’s put his name forward quite frankly but that’s just my personal opinion.
Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald, who last week declared her interest in the position, also welcomed the Government’s decision on the two nominees.
“It is very welcome that the government has nominated both a woman and a man,” she said.
“Both are excellent candidates for the role of EU Commissioner and I wish them every success in the time ahead.”
Hogan resigned from his role as EU Commissioner for Trade last week amid widespread criticism over his attendance at an Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Co Galway, as well as his movements in Ireland in recent weeks – which were in breach of Covid-19 guidelines.
- With reporting by Hayley Halpin, Rónán Duffy and Christina Finn
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Isis or Kinahans?
@Mark Kenny: what’s the difference at this point?
@Mark Kenny: dissident republicans
Just dysfunctional people doing dysfunctional stuff.
Evacuate the area then let it go off, and start building the inner city again from scratch. Opportunity missed ;)
@Scundered: re building wont get get rid of the problems…..just cost taxpayers!
@Scundered: and where would you like us to move too? Housing crisis as it is.
@Sabrina (^_^): Ballybough’s a decent area, born and bred here
@Scundered: Better idea evacuate everyone and put you in the van. How about that.
@Bopper Bops Holland: but Summerhill is just up the road…
@Scundered: I bet your the first and last at proctologist everyday. But didn’t they tell you that your wasting your time they can’t do anything for ass holes.
@Scundered: I live in the area and kinda of agree, sad fact is that there are too many social housing blocks in the area, with more beind built. Those of us paying mortgages and workind arw ignored by local politicians and are not the ones out having a nosey.
@Scundered: Would have been better to spread the word it was full of heroine. Then let it go off 30 mins later.
@Sabrina (^_^): it’s not a housing crisis, it’s a people crisis, where people are creating families with no means to pay for it.
@Blah blah: they should move anyone who hasn’t shown any interest in working to outside the m50 line, and keep the city centre for those who are working, which would make it safer for tourists too. Everyone would win. Social housing shouldn’t be in the centre, sure we would all love a free city centre pad.
@Scundered: I grew up there and have been a tax payer since I got my first degree in 2007. I am now paying a mortgage on a house outside of the city.
My mother who is disabled still lives there and has lived there for the over 20 years. She is a short distance away from the hospital that she has to attend on a regular basis.
Think before you make small minded statements.
I hope you never end up having to rely on the state for support.
I also hope you never have to hear someone wish your childhood home be blown up.
isisidents
A very serious development if it is connected to the feud.How brazen or desperate were these men to drive a van with explosive material through the heart of the north inner city only a couple of days after the murder of Michael Keogh?When tensions are at boiling point and police are very visible with checkpoints in many areas.
Maybe it will turn out to be not feud related but if it is it is a scary thought to what could have happened to whoever the intended targets were.
Thank God the garda intercepted this mobile death machine.Good work cops.
@mark kenny: I think this shows that they don’t give a damn. . They’re going to do whatever they want !
@Scundered:
Garda & Army telling people too leave their homes, children playing on the street put in danger, & some think it would be good thing if the area was wiped off the map , Shame on you, & Shame on the people who transport such items.
@Patrick Ellis: sorry your upset snowflake
@Patrick Ellis: the area was fine before man came along.
Those lads look like they’ve blown it!
@Turk Oneeighttwo: Your all quick with the smart comments but don’t forget this feud is going to get more people killed and possibly innocent people at that. So just give a thought to those killed and injured.
Seems like Gorrah was right, they haven’t gone away you know.
ISIHENS
Unless the detonators are inserted and det cord plastic explosive be it semtex pe 4 or whatever is perfectly safe u can even put a match or flame to it as it takes a direct explosion or electrical current to detonate the explosive which is delivered by the detonator plastic is a very safe explosive and easy to handle
@Mark Dawson: if was just the plastic been transported its no danger and even if a detonator was inserted put on a leather glove and pull it out the static in your body could ignite the detonator hence the glove i seriously doubt it was anymore sophisticated than that but how the hell they got hands on plastic is another thing
have your say