TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen will hold talks in Brussels today that will have a crucial bearing on the identity of the next Irish commissioner, as speculation continues to focus on former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox and Máire Geoghegan Quinn, who is a member of the European Court of Auditors.
Mr Cowen is going to Brussels for the two-day EU summit at which he will discuss a range of issues, including the appointment of the next commission, with his prime ministerial colleagues.
Before the summit he will have lunch with other leading members of the European Liberal and Democrat Group (ELDR), where there is strong support for the appointment of Mr Cox.
Mr Cox was a leading member of the ELDR during his period as an MEP and his appointment as commissioner would get enthusiastic backing from the group.
Fianna Fáil joined the ELDR, the third largest group in the European Parliament, in March of this year.
Mr Cowen will have lunch today with other ELDR prime ministers and foreign ministers, who will be in Brussels for the summit.
The prime ministers of Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Estonia as well as a number of foreign ministers and the leader of the ELDR in the European Parliament will be at the working lunch.
The appointment of commissioners is one of the items on the agenda.
Mr Cowen will later take soundings at the summit about the likely portfolio to be allocated to Ireland in the new commission and the candidate likely to carry the most clout.
Mr Cox’s supporters point to his reputation as a senior figure in European politics as well as the prominent role he took on the Yes side in the second Lisbon referendum campaign.
Supporters of Ms Geoghegan Quinn point to the fact that the European Commission president, José Manuel Barroso, wrote to Mr Cowen and a number of other prime ministers to suggest that they should consider appointing a woman.
Government sources confirmed yesterday that the prospect of Ireland taking the agriculture portfolio had been raised in some quarters and was particularly favoured by the French who have traditionally made common cause with the Irish on agriculture issues at EU level.
While agriculture is regarded as an important middle-ranking portfolio, some Irish officials fear that it would prove to be a poisoned chalice, as significant cuts in the Common Agriculture Policy will feature on the agenda in the lifetime of the incoming commission.
Mr Cowen has sought the views of his Cabinet colleagues on who should be appointed to the post, but has steadfastly refused to disclose his own views on the matter to any of them.
He held a meeting with Green Party leader John Gormley last week to hear the views of the junior Coalition party on the matter.
The issue has been discussed by the Green parliamentary party and while support for Mr Cox’s candidature was expressed by some TDs, a spokesman said that the party had still not finalised its position.
Supporters of Mr Cox and Ms Geoghegan Quinn have been lobbying Ministers for the past few weeks. There has also been lobbying on behalf of Labour Party TD and former minister for finance Ruairí Quinn, who was proposed for the post by his party while Fine Gael has proposed its former leader John Bruton for the post.