Mairéad McGuinness. RollingNews.ie photo
By Irish Echo Staff
Mairéad McGuinness MEP has been named as Ireland’s new EU Commissioner.
She will replace Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan who resigned amid the so-called "Golfgate" affair.
McGuinness will not be the EU's trade representative, however. She will instead take responsibility for the Financial Services and Financial Stability and Capital Markets post.
This takes Ireland out of a frontline role in fraught trade talks between Brussels and London.
EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said that McGuinness had “significant political experience on EU issues”.
“This experience is crucial in carrying forward the EU’s Financial Sector policy agenda, and ensuring it supports and strengthens the Commission’s key priority, notably the twin green and digital transition,” von der Leyen said.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Latvia’s former prime minister and current executive vice president of the European Commission, will take the trade portfolio, while remaining the Commission’s representative for the Eurogroup, thejournal.ie news website reported.
McGuinness’ selection will now be put to the European Council and European Parliament for final approval.
McGuinness has been an MEP since 2004 for the Midlands-North West constituency, and First-Vice President of the European Parliament.
“As an MEP for sixteen years, I have seen at first-hand how the EU is a positive force for change. I have worked to strengthen cooperation between the EU institutions and to bring them closer to people,” McGuinness said.
