The European Parliament committee that rejected the nomination of Department of Finance secretary general Kevin Cardiff to the EU’s audit body has decided not to review its decision.
However, the chairman of the budgetary control committee expects that the entire membership of the European Parliament will be asked next month to vote on a proposal to send the nomination back to the committee for further consideration.
While the Government continues to promote Mr Cardiff for the post, the issue is likely to remain unresolved until the parliament next meets in plenary session, in mid-December.
Commenting after this evening's committee meeting Labour MEP Nessa Childers urged the Government to respect the committee’s latest decision on the matter.
“The committee has decided not to hold a second hearing and instead to stand over the original vote to reject Kevin Cardiff’s nomination - and this must be fully respected. I also ask the Irish Government to eventually respect and accept the outcome of the full and final plenary vote in Strasbourg on the matter.”
Ms Childers indicated that when the issue of the appointment comes before the plenary she will vote in support of the committee’s recommendation not to appoint Mr Cardiff to the European Court of Auditors.