Quidnunc presumes that one eurocrat at least who will be happy to move to Ireland from Brussels is Peter Prendergast, best known here as government press officer under Garrett FitzGerald. He has just been appointed director of the new EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) at a salary of about £65,000 a year.
It will be remembered that when Ireland was given the agency in the divi-up three years ago, there was near-revolt among the 150 or so Brussels Eurocrats when told that not only were they being transferred to an island on the western periphery, but they wouldn't even be located in a capital city. Grange, Co Meath was chosen as the location - it is presumed because it was in the heart of John Bruton's constituency: as he was Taosieach then, he had some small say in the matter.
The EU President, Jacques Santer, visited the site in April and expressed himself much pleased. Nonetheless, the move was delayed and delayed as the staff dragged their heels in Brussels to such an extent that the new building isn't ready yet and in the interim they'll work in Blackrock, Dublin.
