Finance secretary general Cardiff faces EU questioning

Kevin Cardiff will today face questions over his suitability for a job at the European Court of Auditors.

He is due before a committee of the European Parliament this afternoon, and will face a 40-minute grilling.

Mr Cardiff held the position of secretary general of the Department of Finance during the banking crisis. He is also likely to be quizzed on a €3.6bn accounting error which was uncovered in recent weeks.

His nomination to the European Court of Auditors was brought to Cabinet by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Finance Minister, but he also needs the backing of the European Parliament's Budgetary Affairs Committee to take up the new role.