'Unfair' to Michael McGrath if Ireland was to nominate second EU commissioner, Taoiseach says

Simon Harris said it would be unfair to have asked Mr McGrath to step down from Cabinet if he 'only had a 50/50 chance' of being appointed to the role

Taoiseach said Fianna Fáil had the right under the coalition agreement to put forward a name and this meant there was 'no question of two names', adding it would 'seem odd' that Mr McGrath would stand down from Cabinet and not be the Irish nominee. Picture: Gareth Chaney/PA Wire

It would be "unfair" to former finance minister Michael McGrath if Ireland were to nominate a second person for the position of European Commissioner, the Taoiseach has said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has written to the Government requesting both a man and a woman be put forward for the role following her re-election last week.