Máire set to be first female commissioner

IRELAND’S nominee for European Commissioner, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, will be the country’s first woman in the job and is tipped to get the prestigious budget portfolio.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen made the expected announcement after a Cabinet meeting yesterday morning saying that her experience and qualities make her particularly suited to the new role.

He offered her the job 12 days ago in a phone call and the former Fianna Fáil TD of 22 years said she accepted immediately, having thought about the possibility over the past months of speculation.