FORMER president Mary Robinson is among a number of high-profile names being tipped to become the first president of the European Union, a position created by the resounding Yes vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty.
The post of president of the council will be created once the treaty is fully ratified, a prospect looking more likely after the Irish people endorsed it with a 67% Yes vote.
Vice-president of the EU Commission Margot Wallstrom said: "We have started to hear some names and finally I have heard the name of Mary Robinson being mentioned. I am very glad about this."
"It would be very, very good, she is a true European. This is about leadership and she has that leadership quality. She is highly respected everywhere," said Commissioner Wallstrom, a view echoed by other senior sources from across the political divide in Brussels.
The endorsement of the treaty gave a boost to Taoiseach Brian Cowen. But this is likely to be short-lived with the Dáil debating the Fás controversy when it resumes tomorrow, the resumption today of talks with the Green Party on the revised Programme for Government and the threat of industrial action by public servants.
SIPTU president Jack O’Connor yesterday warned of widespread industrial action if further pay cuts are implemented in the public sector.
Government Chief Whip Pat Carey told RTÉ the Government has committed itself to finding an additional €4bn in savings. "It would be preferable that it could be worked out by agreement, but the bottom line is that everything, including pay, has got to be looked at."
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, October 05, 2009
