Irish woman appointed to top EC role

DUBLINER Catherine Day has been appointed to the top job in the European Commission, replacing fellow Irish national David O’Sullivan.

Mr O’Sullivan is moving to head up the Trade Directorate, where Commissioner Peter Mandelson made a name for himself in the WTO talks.

The moves are among 17 key posts announced by Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso yesterday, considerably firming up his control of the key EU body.