Ex-Fine Gael senator lands €250k EU Court of Justice post

The Government has appointed a former Fine Gael senator to a highly paid European role worth €250,000 per year.

The Coalition have given Eugene Regan the position of judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

He will replace the current Irish representative on the ECJ, Judge Aindrias Ó Caoimh, whose term of office will expire in October.

The Government said his posting came after recommendations from an expert panel chaired by retired High Court judge John Cooke.

Appointments to the court are for a period of six years and are renewable.

Before the appointment can be made by Ireland, Mr Regan will be assessed by a panel set up by the European Union to confirm his suitability for the post.

Mr Regan was educated at University College Dublin, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium, as well as the King’s Inns and the Irish Management Institute.

He was called to the bar in 1985. Mr Regan was made a senior counsel in 2005 and has experience in European law, competition and immigration and criminal justice among areas.

Mr Regan served in the cabinet of Peter Sutherland when the latter was EU commissioner for social affairs and competition.

During his political life, he was elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in June 2004.

After his election to the Seanad in 2007, Mr Regan was appointed by Enda Kenny as party spokesperson on justice, equality and law reform.

While it was reported last night that his new position on the Court of Justice of the European Union brings a salary of €250,000, the Department of Taoiseach said it had no specific information on his remuneration.