McCreevy silent over EU Commission role

FINANCE Minister Charlie McCreevy yesterday refused to be drawn on the likelihood of his becoming Ireland’s next European Commissioner, fuelling speculation that he may be persuaded to take the post.

Up to now he has denied he would be interested in the Brussels job. But, following a Finance Ministers’ meeting in Brussels yesterday, when asked if he would take the job if requested to do so by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, he would only reply: “Next question.”

The pressure is on Mr Ahern to choose a Commissioner in less than two weeks’ time. The European Parliament is expected to approve the nomination of Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Barroso as Commission President on July 21 and he will begin to allocate portfolios in the following days.