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Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has said he is not out of the question as a candidate to replace Phil Hogan as Ireland’s next European Commissioner.
But, he said, he would have to be convinced that it would add “significant value” to Ireland’s chances of raising its profile within the commission and said he is aware that Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his team are trying to establish whether that would be possible. . the case.
Speaking in Bandon, Mr. Coveney said that he is part of a discussion that is currently taking place within the Government regarding Mr. Hogan’s successor.
He said that national politics has been “and continues to be” a large part of his life.
On reports that the government can only put forward one candidate for office, Coveney said that he would not comment on whether the government should send the names of two people, a man and a woman, to Commission Chair Ursula von der Leyen, to replace Mr. Hogan. .
He said it is up to the Taoiseach and the government party leaders to make a recommendation to the cabinet.
He said the government will have to make a decision soon because there is a void that must be filled and he believes that a decision will be made “in the next few days.”
It is also understood that MEP Frances Fitzgerald is interested in the position and her colleague and Vice President of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness, has already publicly declared her interest.
The Taoiseach leader, Tánaiste and the Green Party will meet tonight to discuss the nomination.
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