Geoghegan-Quinn nominated as next EU Commissioner
Former minister Máire Geoghegan-Quinn is the Government's nominated candidate for the post of Ireland's next EU Commissioner, it was confirmed today.
The Cabinet approved the nomination this morning, a statement from the Taoiseach confirmed this afternoon.
Brian Cowen said Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn is an experienced and hard worker, and has an in-depth knowledge of the European Union.
The appointment had been widely expected.
The 59-year-old Galway native's nomination will have to be ratified by the European Parliament before formal appointment by Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Mrs Geoghegan Quinn, currently the Irish member of the European Court of Auditors, left national politics here in 1997.
She has formerly held cabinet portfolios in Tourism, Transport and Communications and Justice.
It was in the latter role that she pushed through legislation decriminalising homosexuality here.
Mrs. Geoghan-Quinn is tipped to take the Budget portfolio.
Mr Barroso had previously indicated a preference for female candidates to address gender imbalance in his Commission.
The Taoiseach said this had played a role in his decision to nominate Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn.
“She has been an exemplary member of the European Court of Auditors for the past nine years and, prior to that, held a number of key ministerial positions in the Irish Government,” Mr Cowen said.
“I expect her to make a major contribution to the work of the new Commission, which will include the challenge of overseeing implementation of the positive changes that the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will usher in.”
Mr Cowen also paid tribute to Ireland’s outgoing commissioner Charlie McCreevy for his work in office.
