'Charlie is my closest colleague in the Cabinet'

THE Taoiseach yesterday flatly denied he offered his finance minister the job of European Commissioner to get him out of the way and create space for a reshuffle of his Cabinet.

Describing Mr McCreevy as his confidant and best minister, Bertie Ahern said he believed that by putting forward such a good minister he would secure the best post possible for Ireland.

The Taoiseach said he would like to secure one of the economic portfolios such as internal market or competition. This was now more possible with the commission president designate coming out against super commissioners.