The Government is considering a shortlist for the post of Irish EU Commissioner, the Taoiseach said.

Mr Ahern was replying to the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, who asked him to explain why he had taken such a long time to decide on who should be the Government's nominee to replace Mr Padraig Flynn. "Is the Taoiseach aware of the serious danger that if we don't appoint a serious candidate soon, the Irish commissioner will find himself or herself in charge of arranging the paper clips and turning off the lights in the European building?"

Mr Ahern asked: "Are you interested?" The Taoiseach added that the president-designate of the Commission, Mr Romano Prodi, would be formally appointed in the session in the first week in May. "I have already asked him, as soon as he possibly can after that, to visit Ireland to discuss with the Tanaiste and myself the name of the commissioner we would be prepared to discuss with him . . . the credentials he would seek.

"Already, naturally enough, we are thinking of our short-list, but we will not have any delay."