Cox backed if support there - Ahern

The Taoiseach repeated that he is not interested in the post of EU Commission president and that the Government will back Mr Pat Cox for the job if he has sufficient support.

Mr Ahern said that for many reasons, political but mainly personal, Europe was not the place for him, whatever else he did. "I have admiration for Europe and I like to work there, but I have no wish to be there all the time." He said that Mr Cox would remain in office as president of the European Parliament until July 2nd, when the new parliament meets. "If Mr Cox has sufficient support to win the position of president of the Commission, the Irish Government will support him and that is our clear position. I have been asked that question by several countries, and I have informed them of the Government's position."

The Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said there was a certain amount of apprehension among those who took an interest in European affairs at the notion of Ireland being left without a commissioner for a period. "That issue is one of the fairly straightforward matters being raised by people throughout the country." Mr Ahern said his honest assessment of the situation was that the larger countries would prefer the convention-type proposal that there should be 30 commissioners.

"They would like to establish a small executive-type operation or cabinet structure comprising seven, eight or nine countries representing the larger countries. The remaining countries would receive Commission portfolios down the ranks but would not be centrally involved."