ieExplains: Michael McGrath will be Ireland's new EU commissioner. How was he chosen?
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Finance Minister Michael McGrath has been named as the nominee to be Ireland's next European commissioner.
But how does an EU Commissioner get appointed and what happens after the Irish commissioner is chosen and they head off to Brussels?
Here we have the answers to all your questions about the process and the job itself.
The EC is the executive of the European Union (EU) and is responsible for initiating laws, enforcing the laws of the EU, and managing EU policies.
It is made up of 27 commissioners, one from each member state. It is known as the College of Commissioners.
It deals with:
- The EC makes proposals for laws that are sent to the European Parliament and Council of the EU for approval.
- The Commission has the power to take action against businesses or states that are failing to comply with EU law.
- The Commission manages policies and drafts budgets.
- It represents the EU in negotiations with other countries or organisations.
The EC meets once a week to adopt proposals, finalise policy papers and make decisions which are made by taking a simple majority vote.
There is no formal process outlined by which Ireland chooses a commissioner but it is generally done similar to a diplomatic appointment.
Under the deal agreed by the coalition, it is Fianna Fáil's turn to choose the nominee to be Ireland's next commissioner.
In 2020, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen asked the Government to select both a male and a female option but Mr Martin has elected to only provide one candidate.
Following Micheál Martin's announcement, Mr McGrath's nomination will be formally approved by a meeting of the Cabinet.
Each state's nominee must be approved by the European Parliament. Each of these potential commissioners is subject to scrutiny and undergoes a vetting process.
When proposing a candidate for commissioner, the Government may also propose which position they could take.
Ireland is hoping to land a trade or economic portfolio.
Candidates for Commission portfolios must appear before the relevant parliamentary committee in hearings where their expertise will be evaluated. For example, the candidate for the Justice Commissioner will appear before the justice committee.
The evaluation of the candidate's performance is then sent to the Conference of Committee Chairs.
Once a candidate has been chosen for each portfolio, the Commission President will present the new college to MEPs and each candidate can make a short speech before parliamentarians cast their ballot.
When the Parliament approves the College of Commissioners, the European Council, acting by a qualified majority, formally appoints them.
The current commission is due to remain in office until November.
Mairead McGuinness is the commissioner for financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union.
She took over the role after Phil Hogan resigned in August 2020 in the wake of Golfgate.
It is thought that the role pays €310,000 a year.
Each Commission runs for a period of five years but commissioners can often be replaced over the course of a Commission for a variety of reasons.
With a general election looming there is potential that Mr McGrath will be saying goodbye to Brussels before the five years are up.
A new government would have the right to dismiss the Fianna Fáil appointee and choose its own commissioner.
With the role of minister for finance vacated, there has been speculation that Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers and former Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary could replace Mr McGrath.
However, it is felt that Mr Martin would be more likely to move either Norma Foley or Darragh O'Brien to the finance portfolio and put the new addition in their vacated role.