Ireland will 'consider' von der Leyen letter requesting a woman be nominated as EU commissioner

Michael McGrath was previously named as the country's nominee as European Commissioner and the Government is unlikely to send a second name

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. Picture: Getty Images

Ireland will "consider" a letter from the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen requesting a woman be nominated as commissioner, but is unlikely to send a second name.

The Government has announced that former Finance Minister Michael McGrath will be the country's nominee. Tánaiste Micheál Martin said European treaties allow countries to put forward their own nominee.