Vote causes Government to consider Cardiff nomination
The setback threatens to derail Government plans to install fresh leadership in the Department of Finance, where Mr Cardiff is secretary general.
The European Parliament’s budget control committee narrowly voted to reject his nomination to the Court of Auditors yesterday after a hearing in which he was grilled about his suitability for the post.
Committee members voted against the nomination because they feared a conflict of interest.
Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa, who supports Mr Cardiff, said the nomination would proceed to a final vote of the full European Parliament next month. But Mr Kenny has refused to say if the Government would push the matter that far after the rejection by the influential committee.
“The Government have not had time to consider the result and we will do so [today],” he said.
Mr Cardiff’s job at the department has already been advertised.
Irish MEPs reacted to the vote with fury and pledged to work to reverse the outcome when it comes before parliament.
Fine Gael’s Jim Higgins said the decision was disgraceful, while Mr De Rossa said Mr Cardiff was an excellent candidate.
“Those who helped create this decision have a lot to answer for,” he said.
The outcome deepened Labour divisions over the issue, as Mr De Rossa objected to party colleague and fellow MEP Nessa Childers questioning the nomination. The two had already argued about it earlier this month.
Committee members voted against the nomination, despite their alignment with Fine Gael and lobbying by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
The committee’s leader, Ingeborg Grassle, told the Irish Examiner: “We were concerned about a possibility of a conflict of interest.”
The court audits EU funds, including those going through the Department of Finance, such as the European Commission’s €22.5 billion share of Ireland’s bailout loan.
“We wanted to know from the president of the court how he could guarantee there would be no conflict,” said Mr Grassle.
“Mr Cardiff is a very valuable man. I would like to support him but the [committee], we could not support him. It’s a pity but they refused to postpone the decision, so we could get answers to additional questions.”
The committee rejected him by 12 votes to 11, with one abstention.
