Unfair to ask Michael McGrath to resign from Cabinet for ‘50-50′ chance of EU job, Taoiseach says
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has written to EU governments seeking their nominations for commissioners. Photograph: Olivier Matthys/Shutterstockas the country’s next EU commissioner, despite a request from Ms von der Leyen for member states to put forward the names of a man and a woman for her to pick from.
The Fine Gael leader said he did not think Ireland would face any “punishment” from Ms von der Leyen, when the German decided what commissioner portfolio to give to Mr McGrath. “Michael McGrath has had to step down from Cabinet, that’s a pretty profound thing for him to have to do. I think it would be an unfair thing for him to have to do and then tell him he has a 50-50 chance of getting a role at the end of it,” Mr Harris said.
“It’s a matter for Fianna Fáil MEPs to account for their own actions, not me, but as the Taoiseach I am satisfied we have sent a politician of substance in Michael McGrath,” Mr Harris said.
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