Taoiseach urged not to ‘retire Tánaiste to Brussels’

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has been urged not to pick Tánaiste Mary Coughlan as our next European commissioner in a bid to diffuse an internal Fianna Fáil row.

Sitting MEP Proinsias De Rossa said he was reacting to “strong suggestions” Ms Coughlan would replace Charlie McCreevy when the commission’s term expires later this year.

Mr De Rossa said it may be attractive for Fianna Fáil to deflect the criticism the Tánaiste has received from within her own party by moving her to Brussels but this would be the wrong move for the country.

“There are strong suggestions around the place that Mr Cowen is planning to retire Mary Coughlan to Brussels for the commissioner’s job. That is not acceptable.

“If she is not considered to be capable by her colleagues in Fianna Fáil to run the Department of Enterprise, then she is not capable of doing that job in the European Union for the commission,” he said.

Mr De Rossa, launching a billboard campaign to retake his seat in the Dublin constituency, said whoever is Ireland’s next commissioner, the decision should be based on who is best suited for the post.

He said a Fianna Fáil-led Government should not be allowed use the post as a “retirement home” for its senior politicians: “We can not have a situation where we have another Charlie McCreevy-like commissioner out there.”

Since ex-junior minister John McGuinness said he believed Ms Coughlan was not equipped to run the Department of Enterprise, questions have arisen about her future in the cabinet.

Since Mr McGuinness’s outburst, Paddy Power has slashed the odds on Ms Coughlan replacing Mr McCreevy from 10/1 to 6/1.

Her spokesman said “there is no foundation to [the rumours]”, and she was focused on her work at the department.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey (at 5/2) is still the bookies’ favourite to join the next commission.

Elsewhere in the European campaign, Ireland south candidate Ned O’Keeffe (Fianna Fáil) criticised his Labour adversary Alan Kelly for availing of 35 free billboards across Munster.

Mr O’Keeffe said this should be registered as benefit-in-kind with the Standards in Public Office Commission.