Simon Coveney misses out as Ireland puts forward names for EU Commissioner role

The Cabinet held an incorporeal meeting before lunch today where the names of the two nominees were discussed and approved by Ministers.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney will not be Ireland’s new EU Commissioner with the government putting forward the names of Mairead McGuinness and former Fine Gael advisor Andrew McDowell.

According to government sources, the Cabinet held an incorporeal meeting before lunch today where the names of the two nominees were discussed and approved by Ministers.

After the meeting, the Taoiseach wrote to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, with the two names for nomination as a member of the European Commission.

In a tweet, Ms von der Leyen said: The Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD has informed me of the nomination of @MaireadMcGMEP and @AMcDowell as the Irish candidates for the post of commissioner. I will interview them early next week on their qualifications for the job."

The Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD has informed me of the nomination of @MaireadMcGMEP and @AMcDowell as the Irish candidates for the post of commissioner. I will interview them early next week on their qualifications for the job.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 4, 2020

The Government statement said: "The Government believes that both are candidates of the highest calibre, possessing the necessary competence, independence and European commitment to serve in the role of Commissioner with distinction.

"In keeping with the provisions of the European Treaties, President von der Leyen will now consult with the European Parliament before the appointment of a new Commissioner is made by the Council, in common accord with the President of the Commission.

"The question of the allocation of roles within the Commission is also one for President von der Leyen. However, the Government firmly believes that both candidates have demonstrated that they have experience, skills and capacity to serve and to make a contribution in the most demanding roles."

Speaking about the selection process, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said: “I’m really glad he hasn’t allowed his name to go forward.

“One thing I can say about that is that Simon Coveney is somebody with enormous ability and a certainly would have been a top-class Commissioner, had he decided to go forward," Mr Varadkar said.

Ms McGuinness is seen as the favourite to take the post as Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told his parliamentary party that it would be a political appointee as opposed to an official, which Mr McDowell is.

He has just finished his four-year fixed-term stint as vice president of the European Investment Bank.

According to sources, Mr Coveney’s interest in the post waned significantly in the past 48 hours when it was clear he would not retain the trade portfolio and the government would be submitting two names – one female and one male.

Mr Coveney’s silence and refusal to rule himself out formally has caused a degree of anger and Brussels-based sources have hit out at the “back-channel” discussions to see what portfolios were on offer.

“The Commission and President Ursula von der Leyen were seething at the approach being taken,” said one source.

Mr Hogan resigned as Ireland’s EU commissioner after controversy over his attendance at an Oireachtas golf dinner in Co Galway, revealed by the Irish Examiner as well as his movements in the country during his visit to Ireland.

President von der Leyen requested Ireland submit the names of a woman and a man, in accordance with her priority of pursuing gender balance in the commission.

What role in the EU Commission Ireland’s replacement for Phil Hogan will get depends on the “competences” of the names put forward, the executive has said.

Leo Varadkar statement:

In a statement issued this afternoon, the Tánaiste discussed the submission:

"The Government has submitted the names of Ms Mairead McGuinness, currently First Vice President of the European Parliament, and Mr Andrew McDowell, until recently Vice President of the European Investment Bank.

"Both Mairead and Andrew are candidates of distinction, experience and ability.

"Both are part of the Fine Gael family. Mairead McGuinness has served as a Fine Gael MEP for 16 years. She has played a leading role in the European Parliament, most recently as its First Vice President.

"Having previously served as the Chief Economist for Forfás, Andrew McDowell then served as Director of Policy for Fine Gael, Chief Economic Adviser in the Office of the Taoiseach and most recently as Vice President of the European Investment Bank.

"The person ultimately chosen will be amongst the European People Party’s group on the Commission and so therefore the political balance of the Commission will remain unchanged. Both candidates are champions of free enterprise, free trade, European integration and the building of a Social Europe.

"Both of them would bring strong skills to the European Commission. As a Commissioner they would of course put first the interests of Europe. They would however be able to do so having a strong understanding of Ireland’s particular concerns."