Irish official tipped for top EU position

AN Irish official in Brussels, David O’Sullivan, is being touted for the post of secretary general of the EU’s new foreign service.

There is intense jockeying for the post, with many tipping the French to fill what will be a highly prestigious and powerful job.

But Germany, unlikely to take the position itself, is objecting to a Frenchman having the role as it claims the blueprint for the new service is already too similar to the Paris diplomatic service.

Germany has already made it clear it will not accept another Briton in such a key role, providing advice and support to the new foreign minister, former head of the British House of Lords, Catherine Ashton.

Ms Ashton, who worked with Mr O’Sullivan for a year when she was Trade Commissioner, is known to favour the 57-year-old Dublin man for the job.

He is currently director general of the European Commission’s Trade Department and is a former secretary general of the Commission – the highest-ranking civil servant in the organisation.

Mr O’Sullivan has spent the last 30 years in Brussels, having been seconded by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Commission. He speaks French, Spanish, German and Japanese.

Ireland has already declared its interest in filling the ambassadorial post in China and Foreign Minister Micheál Martin is pushing the current Irish Ambassador in Beijing, Declan Kelleher, as candidate for the job.