PDs wary of Walsh for EU

Fionnán Sheahan, Political Correspondent

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern confirmed yesterday he would nominate the Irish commissioner later this month, with Mr Walsh, Seamus Brennan, Charlie McCreevy and John O'Donoghue all rumoured to be under consideration.

According to Fianna Fáil sources, Mr Ahern has been lobbied by individuals in the agriculture industry and farmers' groups to give Mr Walsh the post, as he would have an extremely strong case to be appointed as EU agriculture commissioner.

Mr Ahern reappointed Mr Walsh to the Cabinet in 2002 after representations from figures in the horse breeding and agriculture sectors and the Agriculture Minister is hotly tipped to be dropped in the forthcoming reshuffle.

The party sources also indicated Mr Walsh's name is circulating in official circles far more than the other three would-be candidates.

But yesterday PD TD Fiona O'Malley said she would like to see Ireland's EU commissioner having a greater clarity of purpose with the appointment being part of a more significant reshuffle.

"I think it will be Joe Walsh but I would like to see someone else," she said.

While the Taoiseach didn't reveal his thinking behind the selection of the candidate, he did say the decision was due in the coming weeks. Mr Ahern told RTÉ Radio One's This Week programme he would discuss the appointment with the new EU President towards the end of July.