For immediate release
Dublin, 8 September 2020: EM Ireland wishes to congratulate Mairead McGuinness after this morning’s announcement by President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, that she be appointed as Ireland’s next Commissioner-Designate with responsibility for Financial Services, Financial Stability and the Capital Markets Union.
CEO of European Movement Ireland, Noelle O Connell commented this morning,
“On behalf of European Movement Ireland, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Mairead McGuinness on her nomination by President von der Leyen to take the role of Ireland’s next Commissioner-Designate with responsibility for Financial Services, Financial Stability and the Capital Markets Union. Mairead has been a long-standing and dedicated representative of Ireland in the European Union, from her now fourth term serving as MEP, to her recent re-election to the role of First Vice-President of the Parliament for a second term. Through this role she has been a great supporter and advocate for Ireland, in particular with regard to Brexit negotiations. We wish Mairead every success in such a crucial role at this time and will follow her work closely in our own work in EM Ireland in developing the relationship and links between Ireland and Europe.
“I also extend our congratulations to Andrew McDowell on his nomination for the role of Commissioner-Designate, having recently completed his term as Vice-President in the European Investment Bank. I wish him every success in his future endeavours. Mr McDowell has been a great advocate for Ireland in Europe through his role with the EIB.
“Finally, we wish Valdis Dombrovskis, new European Commissioner for Trade every success in one of the most important economic portfolios in the European Commission at present. His appointment comes at a crucial time for Ireland and indeed for the EU as a whole.”
More information on the next steps in the process of the nomination and appointment of a new European Commissioner can be found in our Just the Facts briefing here.
Press Queries:
Noelle O Connell, CEO of European Movement Ireland is available for comment. Contact Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh, Communications and Campaigns Manager, lisa@europeanmovement.ie .
Notes:
- Mairead McGuinness: is the First Vice-President of the European Parliament and represents the Midlands-North-West constituency in Ireland as a Member of the European Parliament. As First Vice-President, she oversees relations with national parliaments, in particular with the EU affairs committees of Member State parliaments. She has responsibility for the Parliament’s dialogue with religious and non-confessional organisations on EU policies and legislative proposals and is also Vice-President with responsibility for North America. She sits on Parliament Committees on Agriculture and Rural Development, the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and Constitutional Affairs. She is chair of the Parliament’s working group on the administrative consequences of Brexit. Mairead McGuinness was elected First Vice-President of the European Parliament in January 2017 and was re-elected to the post in July 2019. She has been a Vice-President of the Parliament since July 2014.
- About European Movement Ireland: Founded in 1954, European Movement (EM) Ireland is the longest-established Irish NGO working on European affairs. An independent, not-for-profit, membership organisation, EM Ireland works to develop the connection between Ireland and the European Union. We facilitate links between all sectors of Irish society and the EU, through advocacy campaigns, education programmes, training courses, information briefings and networking events. For more information, visit europeanmovement.ie .
