Mairead McGuinness elected vice president of European People's Party

Mairead McGuinness. Picture: RollingNews.ie

Mairead McGuinness has been elected vice president of the European People's Party (EPP).

Tánaiste Simon Harris has congratulated the Fine Gael politician and former EU Commissioner after she secured the influential role on Wednesday.

"Mairead’s election is a vote of confidence in the Fine Gael party in Europe," Mr Harris said.

It is understood Mr Harris had engaged with a list of senior politicians across Europe in recent days, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola and President of the EPP Manfred Weber, in order to win back the vice president seat for Fine Gael.

“The overwhelming level of support that Mairead received underlines the high regard she is held in across Europe, being elected alongside other EU Prime Ministers and EU Commissioners," Mr Harris said.

“Mairead’s election is also a vote of confidence in the Fine Gael party. Fine Gael has not held a vice presidency position since the election of Minister Helen McEntee to the role in 2019. When I was elected leader of Fine Gael last year, I stated that one of my key priorities was increasing Fine Gael’s engagement with the EPP and regaining the Vice Presidency position within the party.

“Fine Gael is the party of Europe in Ireland, the party was a founding member of the EPP in 1976. Mairead follows in the footsteps of Fine Gael public representatives serving at the highest levels of the EU political infrastructure," he said.

Fine Gael MEPs Seán Kelly, Regina Doherty, Maria Walsh and Nina Carberry also congratulated Ms McGuinness on her election at a gathering in Valencia.