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Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness has confirmed that she would be interested in succeeding Phil Hogan as Ireland’s European Commissioner and suggested it would be “reckless” for the government not to present both male and female candidates for the position.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has asked the government to nominate both male and female candidates for the post following Hogan’s resignation on Wednesday night.
Mr. Hogan resigned from his post following controversy over his attendance at a golf society dinner and questions about his moves across Ireland before and after.
Speaking on Sunday, Ms. McGuinness said she was interested in the role. “My name is in circulation and yes, I am interested in being the commissioner,” she said on RTÉ Radio 1’s This Week program.
“But, as we all know, the decision is a government decision. We’ve been through a pretty tough streak over the last few days. Our name is being talked about in Europe in a way that we would rather it were not.
“The president of the commission was very clear that she wants nominations soon so that we can get out of where we are. There are many other names there as well, but my name is among them.
“I think we should listen very carefully to what the chair of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has actually said. She wants the government to act quickly and she wants two names. She wants a woman and a man. “
McGuinness said that no one in government circles had surveyed him about the position yet, but admitted that he had been in contact with a prominent figure for advice on the matter.
“I think because of my position as first vice president of parliament, my name was in the mix from the beginning,” she said. “I spoke to a person who is a good friend of mine to ask for advice.”
Regarding Ireland’s chances of retaining the key commercial portfolio, Ms McGuinness said that there was too much emphasis on that aspect of the discussion in Ireland.
“This is someone who is committed to Europe,” he said. “I think we have forgotten it here in Ireland. We have focused on the interests of Ireland as if they were unique and different from Europeans.
“Whoever gets this job, male or female, will be a European Commissioner, clearly with an Irish background, but not just for Ireland.”
Ms McGuinness also said that Ireland’s reputation had suffered in Europe as a result of the controversy, but not “in the sense that we cannot recover.”
“I think it is very clear that when any member state is in the center of a difficult crisis or controversy that lasts for several days, it is not good news for us and it is an uncomfortable position,” he said.
“However, I also have to say that I had a lot of contacts with colleagues who worked with Phil Hogan and there is a personal regret that Phil resigned the way he did, but an understanding of what has happened up to that.
“I think what they will measure us now is our ability to recover, to move forward with the business in question,” he said.
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