Taoiseach supports Cardiff as Irish MEPs voice concern

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has supported the nomination of Kevin Cardiff to the European Court of Auditors despite growing unease over the move from within its own ranks.

At a book launch last night, he said Mr Cardiff was “technically very well qualified” for the post.

Earlier, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin dismissed suggestions the nomination was a convenient way of removing Mr Cardiff from the position of secretary general of the Department of Finance following his association with the previous administration. “It isn’t a matter that he’s no longer suitable for Finance. People move into different appointments as we select people who are suitable for it.”

He spoke after three MEPs from government parties expressed concern at the nomination because of a €3.6 billion accounting error in the department under his watch.

Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly and Labour’s Nessa Childers are considering voting against the appointment.

Mr Cardiff will have to face the budget control committee of the European Parliament on November 23 and MEPs will then vote on his appointment to the court, which oversees EU spending.

Mr Howlin said the Government believed the “recommendation will be endorsed”.

Labour MEP Phil Prendergast said the debt error was embarrassing, while Ms Childers had reservations about Mr Cardiff from the start. “In the circumstances of the preceding years and his economic background and where he was during the last few years, he’s not appropriate,” she said.

Munster MEP Mr Kelly said it would do “immense damage to the country and himself” if Mr Cardiff was rejected. He said the committee “will not give him an easy ride” and will be mindful of his comments before the Public Accounts Committee that the auditor job would be a “doddle”.

The committee’s chair, Dutch MEP Jan Mulder, said it was “too early to say” if Mr Cardiff was suitable.