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The leaders of the three coalition parties will resume talks today on who should be nominated to replace Phil Hogan as EU commissioner.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan discussed the issue last night but have yet to decide their approach.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has publicly invited Ireland to nominate both a woman and a man for this position.
Then I would decide the date.
Political groups in the European Parliament, such as the Socialists and Democrats and the Greens, have also called for a female candidate from Dublin, an important issue given that MEPs must give their consent.
Read more:
Coveney does not rule himself out of commission position
McGuinness ‘interested’ in EU Commission position
Phil Hogan resigns from EU post following golf controversy
Two leading women politicians have already declared their interest in the post of Commissioner: the Vice President of Parliament Mairead McGuinness and the MEP and former Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald.
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney did not write off himself, but added that he would have to be convinced that it would add “significant value” on paper.
The Government has the possibility to present a single candidacy for this position and ignore the request for gender balance of President von der Leyen.
The coalition’s strategy was discussed last night by the three leaders of the ruling party.
They must meet again after the Cabinet, with the pressure mounting to make a decision.
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