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A LETTER TO member states’ Governments from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has requested they propose two names, a man and a woman, for their European Commissioner role.
Earlier Tánaiste Micheál Martin told The Journal that he was not aware of the letter yet, but the Government would be nominating former finance minister Michael McGrath only for the position.
After her re-election as Commission President last week, von der Leyen announced that she would be seeking that member states nominated a man and a woman for the Commissioner role, as she did in 2019.
She said her reason for the request was that she wanted to create an equal gender balance in her College of Commissioners. There is an exception of countries who are re-nominating their incumbent Commissioners.
However, the Tánaiste is against the idea and believes it infringes on the member states’ rights under the EU treaties to propose candidates for the positions.
“We will respond in due course to that. The jurisdiction is within the Government’s realm, in terms of the appointment of commissioners to be the country’s nominee,” Martin told The Journal.
The decision not to send a female candidate has previously been supported by Taoiseach Simon Harris. “On this occasion, we are just sending the name of Michael McGrath,” said Harris last week.
“That’s not to be in any way disrespectful to the view of the President von der Leyen – it’s for two reasons. One, the treaties do allow member states to decide their Commissioner.
“Secondly, we’ve just asked our finance minister to not be the finance minister, he has stepped down from cabinet and he’s now preparing very intensively – it’s important to provide him with that certainty,” he added.
Asked during a press conference today, the European Commission said that they would not be discuss the legal basis of the request but said that the request of the Commission President was clear, two names.
A European Commission spokesperson said it could not comment on potential consequences for member states who do not send both a male and female name.
“She has made a request. The request is very clear, it’s two names – a man and a woman – unless it’s an outgoing Commissioner that is being confirmed. [We] will not speculate further on what will happen further in process or other hypothetical scenarios.”
The first von der Leyen Commission had the highest number of female Commissioners in the college, 12, but that was still less than half of the make up.
In its recent nominations, the EU leaders have selected two women, von der Leyen and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, to be the top-EU diplomats. It will be the first time that both roles are held by women at the same time.
Member states have until 30 August to propose and nominate candidate for the role. As of this morning, just nine countries have confirmed their nominations – excluding Germany where von der Leyen is from and Estonia.
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Surely who ever is good for the role, regardless of gender, should be acceptable. Otherwise, you might end up with a Dee Forbes.
Are you saying that in all of Ireland’s history, we never had a women who was capable of the role of Taoiseach? Just all men who so happened to be capable?
@9QRixo8H: Yes, the ‘merit’ argument only holds if there are equal opportunities, which there never have been on account of lack of childcare etc. These days, misogyny and general abuse may dissuade women from entering politics, sadly.
@9QRixo8H: I don’t think that’s what Anthony is saying, at all.
If the government made only one nomination, and that was a woman, would there be the same commentary?
But the main point surely is that either the government (in this case the State) is correct, and our Ursula doesn’t have this power.
Or she does.
if she doesn’t, then she should not be allowed to impose authority that she does not have.
@9QRixo8H: I can’t think of any.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: It is a request not an order, there is no imposition of authority involved.
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: there is an implied threat.
@Nodon: An implied threat to do what?
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: She requested 2 candidates, one male and one female.
The government submitted one, and told her this was their choice.
She *again* requested that the government submit 2 candidates.
She doesn’t seem to want to accept no as an answer.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: She wrote to ALL of the member states governments asking them all to send two candidates – some probably already have, others have not.
This is not a dialogue between her and the Irish government this is her asking all the members.
Now how will it look if we’re the only hold out? How about if we’re one of many?
Nobody has mentioned how any other government has responded are we out on a limb or one of the crowd? I have no idea but I’m guessing that we’re not out on a limb.
Filling positions should not be based on gender but ability.
@ian: That would suggest the those in government – both here and in the EU – don’t believe that what they do requires any special ability.
And that appearances are more important.
@ian: Exactly and it is the prerogative of the Government of each member State to decide who to nominate.
Is she legally entitled under EU legislation to request this ?
@Tom Reidy: Frau Genocide thinks she can do as she likes. An affront to democracy and the original ideals of the European project. Free Palestine.
@Tom Reidy: She can ask, like she did before, she cannot and did not insist.
There are a whole lot of people seemingly determined to make a mountain of this rather undersized mole hill.
It’s absolutely none of Von Der Leyens business if EU countries nominate 1 person or 5 people for their countries commissioner roll. So she should stay out of it.
What a picture. Martin standing by, watching on like a bold school boy and ready to do whatever he’s told to do by the demon headmistress!
@Andrew Kenny: Or someone signing a visitors’ book while her host waits politely.
@Brendan O’Brien: Of course that’s what is actually happening in the photo but how ironic that the real boss in that picture works out of Brussels. We ain’t as ‘independent’ as we think we are!
@Andrew Kenny: where did u see that ?He is standing firm with his nomination so wise up
@Brendan O’Brien: what an a#(hole you really are.
Irish government recreating China Here – THE CIRCUIT COURT will be able to order social media platforms and digital services providers to identify people who are anonymously posting defamatory material, under Ireland’s new defamation law.
@087 bed: Sounds good. You don’t think there should be laws against defamation?
@Brendan O’Brien: Yes there should be laws against defamation. Should juries be removed from the courts in defamation trails?
@Brendan O’Brien: This is about silencing decent as you well know, Be careful what you wish for, You might be next. All the Best
@087 bed: Defamation isn’t dissent.
@Brendan O’Brien: Defamation is a censorship buzz word.
@Brendan O’Brien: you’re guilty of Defamation of people on here. Myself for example when you’ve labelled me Far right and you say I’m a fake profile and even naming who you supposedly think am. That defamation of my character.
@Ger Whelan: I doubt any of that would fall under the legal definition of defamation, verbal abuse maybe.
there is a tradition here in Ireland of rewarding a senior Govt Minister with the plum job and they will not risk the possible shame of their Senior man being sidelined by a less connected woman
@Gerry Ryan: Any politican can be a Senior Minister just look at the currant crop.
@David Murray: yes, this years currant crop is expected to be poor because if the bad weather. As to the CURRENT crop of minister in government , they are expected to be poor under all known circumstances.
Our outgoing Commissioner is female, the incoming one is male… What part of gender equality does the current nominee offend?
@Brian Merriman: Probably von der Leyen would like flexibility to achieve gender balance on the Commission as a whole.
I don’t have a high opinion of the current Government but if they stand up VOn der Leyon this time I will have a bit more respect for them. On the other hand if they give in to this silly request they will be worthy of nothing more than utter contempt.
Send her Danny and Michael Healy Rea
Healy Rea’s X 2
Apart from the obvious giving the position to the most qualified, what’s more important here is Von Der Leyen overstepping. She needs to rein it in a bit.
Blatant gender discrimination. I genuinely feel sorry if the role is awarded to a woman cos she’ll feel she only got it because of that
@Ian McDonald: I don’t suppose all the men who have been promoted above more qualified/competent women were ashamed.
@Brendan O’Brien: examples being ……. ?
@Ian McDonald: There must be thousands. Every large company will have had many. Thankfully times are changing.
I picked this article: there are many other studies with similar findings.
Jobs for the boys only. Old school still.
I have a sneaky suspicion that this is a backdoor route for the EU president of the day to pick the commisionor and thus command their loyalty and very little to do with gender balance in order to fill up the commision with lackys.
Did Germany and Estonia propose a man?
They shouldn’t have voted for her she is now a dictator tell her to get lost
Michael McGrath and Michaela McGrath – simples!
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