The Irish government today nominated Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Ireland's representative in the European Court of Auditors, to be the country's next member of the European Commission.
Brian Cowen, Ireland's prime minister, said that Geoghegan-Quinn had been “an exemplary member of the European Court of Auditors for the past nine years”.
Cowen added that her “combination of experience and qualities” made her particularly suited to serving as European commissioner.
During her career, Geoghegan-Quinn has also served as justice minister and as minister for tourism, transport and communications.
Cowen said he expected her “to make a major contribution to the work of the new Commission”, including implementation of the “positive changes that the ratification of the Lisbon treaty will introduce”.
Geoghegan-Quinn enjoyed “wide respect” for her role in the Court of Auditors, Cowen said, and had an “in-depth knowledge of the workings of the European Union, including the European Commission”.
The prime minister said that, in selecting Geoghegan-Quinn, the government had also taken into account the emphasis that José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, had placed on the importance of gender balance in the Commission.
Geoghegan-Quinn is the fifth woman nominated to be a member of the Commission. Several senior MEPs have warned that the European Parliament could reject any Commission line-up that contains fewer female members than serve in the current Commission, eight.
Ireland's outgoing commissioner is Charlie McCreevy, who held the internal market and services portfolio.
