Kenny and Gilmore 'disappointed' with O'Shea comments about Cardiff

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have expressed their disappointment at comments contained in an email from the out-going Irish representative on the European Court of Auditors about the man in line for the job, Kevin Cardiff.

In the email to two members of the Budgetary Control Committee that voted down the nomination of Mr Cardiff yesterday, Eoin O'Shea highlighted how Mr Cardiff had been in a senior position at the time of the banking collapse in Ireland.

He also highlighted the €7bn transactions between Anglo and Irish Life and Permanent to hide transactions in Anglo accounts.

At least one of the two German MEPs who received the email voted against Mr Cardiff's nomination yesterday.

Enda Kenny has said he was "disappointed to find an independent officer of the Court of Auditors making such comments".

The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said: "It's disappointing that an Irish member of the Court of Auditors would (write such an email), but to be fair I think he has acknowledged that it was wrong to do so and has apologised for it."

Mr O’Shea said he sent the email in a “moment of madness” after finding out he would not be nominated to stay in his job.

Mr O'Shea was giving evidence before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs this morning.

He said he has since apologised to Mr Cardiff.

"At that stage I may have been a little angry in relation to the matter," he said today. "I have subsequently revised my opinion, having met the gentleman… and understood his interest in the position.

"I would apologise to him for sending that email. I did it in a moment of heat."