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LAST UPDATE | 7 Oct 2020
FINE GAEL MEP Mairead McGuinness has been confirmed as Ireland’s new EU Commissioner today.
The European Parliament this afternoon confirmed that McGuinness had been approved, with 583 votes in favour of her appointment and just 75 against.
The outgoing EU Vice-President will take over the financial services and financial stability portfolio.
The European Council must still approve the appointment, but this is expected to happen without incident. In a statement released after the vote, McGuinness said that “today was an important step in the nomination process”.
“I expect to hit ground running early next week,” she said, adding that advancing the banking union, the capital markets union and sustainable finance would be a big part of her brief.
“Tackling money laundering will also be a core part of the work programme I will be dealing with, as well as regulating the new cryptocurrencies and ensuring consumer protection,” McGuinness added.
McGuinness will replace Phil Hogan as Ireland’s EU Commissioner, after he resigned from his role as Trade Commissioner in August in the wake of the Golfgate scandal.
The Irish government proposed McGuinness and Andrew McDowell, former vice president of the European Investment Bank, as its two candidates to succeed Hogan.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chose McGuinness for the role last month after interviewing both candidates.
Tax
McGuinness was questioned by her MEP colleagues at a hearing last week.
During the three-hour hearing, McGuinness was asked repeatedly about her stance on taxation. This is the most tense part of Ireland’s relationship with the EU; its ‘sweetheart’ low tax rate for multinational corporations.
Her response was that she would take her “national hat off at the door”, and will be acting on behalf of the European Commission if she is approved for the role.
McGuinness said she understands that tax is a “big issue” for EU citizens, and “should be fair and efficient”.
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus last week said McGuinness’ likely appointment as Commissioner for Financial Services will not curtail the activities of profit-driven banks, vulture funds and insurance companies.
“The status quo will be maintained, which is a bad blow to many Irish families and businesses who need the most help in these extraordinary times” MacManus said.
Speaking to EuroParlRadio this morning, Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan confirmed that the majority of Green MEPs would vote in favour of McGuinness’ appointment.
“I think it’s a good thing for Ireland. It’s good to have a woman who has huge experience in the European Parliament so she knows how the institutes operate here in Europe,” O’Sullivan said.
Fine Gael MEPs Seán Kelly, Deirdre Clune, Frances Fitzgerald and Maria Walsh welcomed the European Parliament vote in favour of McGuinness.
“Today’s vote is a strong endorsement of our colleague Mairead McGuinness as Ireland’s EU Commissioner and shows the depth of respect the European Parliament has for her work ethic and professionalism,” Kelly said.
McGuinness has been an MEP since 2004 for the Midlands-North West constituency, and has been Parliament Vice-President since 2014.
With reporting from Gráinne Ní Aodha
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Good for her.Well done.
@El Marco: For being a successful Irish person who has worked hard over many years in different jobs and is now taking on an important role in Europe. Ireland should be proud of her instead of being El Begrudgeo
@Fionn Darland: aye good one. Go back to sleep.
@El Marco: shame on you for that statement.
@John Kenny: Her loyalty and service on behalf of Fine Gael, RTE and the Irish establishment has been rightly rewarded. Well played Mairéad!
@Fionn Darland: who is begrudging her ? She was perfectly qualified for the gig and first choice of most people (with a brain and interest on Eu matters )
Any issues about the President of Commission remotely dictating or telling any Member State on who they should pick is a valid complaint, the Commission can not do that
@Bramley Hawthorne: most people support the Establishment of our State ! We can’t be all Shinners pretending that the legiotmate government is still that of 1921 post Treat
@Fionn Darland: sorry Fiona, I questioned you on the existence or lack there of of the begrudgers. My bad, I was wrong
@Christy Dolan: No worries Christy. The sexist and begrudging post I was responding to was deleted by the journal!
O boy is this the best we can do?
@Braonain Proinseas: Pretty much and, frankly, not at all bad.
Phil is laughing all the way to the bank.
@Splat: Phil is beside himself. Seething. ;-)
Is Phil Hogan still on the payroll in some capacity does anyone know? Maybe given a cushty number on the quiet?
@SB: of course he is, either paid off in full, or getting the same, sitting at home on the sofa.
@theseadoc: I wouldn’t be one bit surprised either.
@SB: he should be, did as much wrong as the shinnors driving up north while we were in lockdown
@talksense: that may be so but his sheer arrogance and cockiness alone was disgraceful.
@theseadoc: no.
Em why werent we given a choice meps are representing us. Not the partys. it should have gone too a public vote.
@Aaron92utd: people vote for a TD, who votes for a Taoiseach, who form a government that nominated the commissioner. So it was the choice of the people. Also, this is the EU commission, not the parliament; what has it got to do with MEPs
@Aaron92utd: Jesus imagine if we ended up with Murphy, Barrett or a Shinnor
@Aaron92utd: oh dear
1. Every 5 years , we DO have a choice as to who are MEPs are . It’s held on the same Election Day as the local elections .
2. If you were actually referring to the election of the Commissioners , why ? That’s always a matter for governments !
We need diplomats , technocrats and not populists . (Of course the job is sometimes given as a golden handshake rather than merit or a Taoiseach os desperate to get rid of a troublesome TD eg Padraig Flynn back in the 1990s) A candidate for Ireland’s Commissioner CAN NOT PROMISE the public that they will represent Ireland and do a job for them. They might come from Ireland but a Commissioner represents the EU and NOT any particular Member State .
@Aaron92utd: Anyone who opposes a United or Federal EU would not want the right to democratically elect the Commission . Why ? It be the de facto government of the EU and all the hall marks of a United EU super state
The power should and always remain with the Member States via Council of Europe
Also, a Commissioner represents the EU and NOT the country that they come from. That means they may have to sue their country, on behalf of the EU
Considering you clearly don’t know how MEPs are elected, we are probably better off that the general public don’t have a say on who is appointed by our government as a Commissioner . Many of ye are clueless as to how the EU works
I Wonder what her handicap is like
Careerist lightweight…..pretty sad appointment
@David cotter: thats very judgemental
@David cotter: another disgruntled Shinner
@David cotter: explain how she is lightweight ? Five examples . Careerist? How ? It’s not like she had to go begging for the Commissioner gig , she was heavily tipped by the public in the know and the government to take the job . She’s the best candidate .
@David cotter: they obviously didn’t know you were available.
Still, talent will out. If it’s there.
Happy for her – but who gives a fekc today?
We need to know where the 132 Covid19 roads blocks are!
Well done!
Go Mairead!!!!
Well done Mairéad!
She has a good head on her
Hip hip hooray.
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