FIANNA FÁIL MEPs have rejected accusations of “tribalism” surrounding speculation that former minister Máire Geoghegan-Quinn will be appointed Ireland’s new European Union commissioner.
Brian Crowley, Fianna Fáil MEP for Ireland South, said he did not think a decision would be taken before the appointment of a president of the European Council and a high representative for foreign and security policy, as that would determine what other posts were available.
“There’s been a certain campaign being waged in certain sections of the media towards non-tribalism and so on, but that non-tribalism is as discriminatory as the application of tribalism would be,” Mr Crowley said.
Pat the Cope Gallagher, Fianna Fáil MEP for Ireland North West, said Ms Geoghegan-Quinn would make an excellent commissioner, comparing with the best Ireland had had since 1973, if she was offered and accepted the post.
There were people who were “possibly as good but maybe not better” than Ms Geoghegan-Quinn and she would secure a very important portfolio, he added.
Labour MEP for Dublin Proinsias De Rossa said it would be important for Ireland to nominate a woman.
“Whether it’s a Fianna Fáil woman or a Labour woman or a Fine Gael woman or a non-party woman, I think it’ll be very important as a marker for Ireland to actually nominate a woman, obviously of ability,” Mr De Rossa said.
However, he said the person’s agenda would also be important and appointing someone “with the same politics” as outgoing commissioner Charlie McCreevy would be a “disaster”.
Labour Party TD and former minister for finance Ruairí Quinn has been proposed for the post by his party.
Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly said he hoped the Government would not appoint anybody until the president of the European Council and a high representative for foreign and security policy were appointed.
“John Bruton is a candidate for the presidency. It’s very important he’s given full support,” Mr Kelly said. “If he doesn’t happen to get it then obviously he’ll be very much in the frame for commissionership.”
Independent MEP for Dublin Joe Higgins said the personality of the commissioner did not matter.
“This is a right-wing, neo-liberal commission and whichever commissioner is here from Ireland will toe that line,” he said.