Ireland’s next European Union commissioner, Michael McGrath, has been handed the portfolio covering justice and the rule of law, a position regarded as a mid-ranking role by several current and former senior EU officials.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced the jobs she had picked for her team of commissioners, who had been nominated by each country to lead the EU’s powerful executive arm for the next five years.
While large countries such as France, Italy, Spain and Poland secured some of the most important portfolios, Ireland was given a middle-of-the-table job responsible for justice and upholding the rule of law in Europe.
Mr McGrath, who stepped down as finance minister in June after he was nominated by the Government to be Ireland’s next EU commissioner, had been pushing for a prominent economic role in Dr von der Leyen’s new commission.
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The justice role will probably see Mr McGrath clash with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban over efforts by his populist right-wing government to further undermine human rights and the rule of law.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr McGrath said the EU could not allow backsliding on this front to spread. “I think it is reasonable to expect all member states to abide by a common set of rules, particularly if you want to enjoy the benefits of European Union membership, significant financial benefits in many cases,” he said.
In the horse trading over the commissioner jobs, it is understood Renew, the centrist grouping Fianna Fáil belongs to in Europe, had sought the justice job for a nominee from its ranks, which in part led Dr von der Leyen to pick Mr McGrath for the portfolio. The Government was privately briefed that Mr McGrath was being lined up for the commissioner for justice job more than a week ago.
[ Michael McGrath’s new EU justice job is a win, but not the one Government wantedOpens in new window ]
There was “no sense” that Fianna Fáil MEPs decision to vote against Dr von der Leyen’s reappointment as commission president was still being held against Ireland, Mr McGrath said. “I think everyone has moved on,” he said.
Mr McGrath will now need to pass a confirmation hearing in the European Parliament in the coming weeks, before he formally takes up his role as commissioner.
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