Ireland will 'consider' von der Leyen letter requesting a woman be nominated as EU commissioner
Images President Von Picture: Der Getty Eu Mission Ursula Leyen
Ireland will "consider" a letter from the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen requesting a woman be nominated as commissioner, but is unlikely to send a second name.
The Government has announced that former Finance Minister Michael McGrath will be the country's nominee. Tánaiste Micheál Martin said European treaties allow countries to put forward their own nominee.
After being re-elected for a second five-year term as the European Commission's president, Ms von der Leyen last Thursday said she wanted countries to put forward two names.
“In the coming weeks, I will ask leaders to put forward their candidates. I will, as I did last time, write a letter and ask for the proposal of a man and a woman as candidates,” she said.
Ms von der Leyen has written to countries across Europe requesting two names, but while Mr Martin indicated this will be considered, a second name is not likely to be forthcoming.
"The clear decision of the Government was to nominate the Minister of Finance Michael McGrath. (We believe) correspondence has arrived. And we'll consider that correspondence. But I think we want to be honest with everybody today, the nominee was Michael McGrath, a senior minister of government at the time, that was the nominee."
Mr Martin said he believes that the last time a commissioner was nominated, one name was sent and that the choice of the commissioner was "in the realm" of the government.
Taoiseach Simon Harris last week also ruled out sending a second name.
"In terms of gender equality, we take that extremely seriously. There's been occasions where Ireland sends two names, there's been occasions when Ireland sent one name, there's been occasions where we've sent one name and that's just been a female, one name and just a man.
"On this occasion, we are just sending the name of Michael McGrath that's not to be in any way disrespectful to the view of the President. It's for two reasons. One, the treaties do allow member states to decide their Commissioner. I do think it's important that we have that right to adhere to the treaties.
"And then secondly, we've just asked our Finance Minister not to be the Finance Minister. He has stepped down from Cabinet and he's now preparing very intensively. And I think it's important to provide him with that certainty, as he does that."
Mr Harris downplayed the idea that Ms von der Leyen will not appoint Mr McGrath to a high-profile role within the European Commission because of the votes of Fianna Fáil MEPs against her.
Mr Harris said there had been "a coalition agreement done at a European level" to re-elect Ms von der Leyen and that "it's important that that agreement is honoured" by Renew, the European home of Fianna Fáil, MEPs.