The Labour Party this morning urged the Taoiseach to consult the Opposition over the appointment of the next Irish EU commissioner.
Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore called for agreement in the House on the appointment of the commissioner.
Mr Gilmore said it was his understanding that the process would go ahead during October and that contacts were under way over the nomination between the Commission and the Government.
He said he did not believe the appointment to the office should be "in gift of the government" and that the commissioner "should be seen as representative of the country rather than just a representative of the parties in Government" in the wake of the Lisbon vote.
"The decision that was made last Friday was made by the people of Ireland. You should respond to that decision. There was a great deal of both political generosity . . . in respect of support of the treaty, and there was also generosity on the people who voted to ratify the treaty . . . notwithstanding their dislike of the Government.
"I think it is wrong for you now to now turn around after the referendum is over and say 'that's done, the commissioner is the prerogative of the Government'," Mr Gilmore said.
Responding, Brian Cowen told the House he was again open to views from Mr Gilmore but that this appointment was the prerogative of the Government and did not require the agreement of the Opposition.
The Taoiseach said the commissioner would be a representative of the country and that it was unfair to say an individual was not qualified to represent the State on the basis they were a member of the Government or a supporter of it, adding he did not recall consultation on such posts when Fianna Fáil were in opposition.
Pat Cox, the former president of the European Parliament who played a major role in the Yes campaign, has been widely tipped to take over from Charlie McCreevy.
Former taoiseach John Bruton, who is the EU ambassador to the United States, and a number of Fianna Fáil politicians including MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher and former MEP Eoin Ryan have also been mentioned as candidates.
It is thought the consideration of avoiding a byelection will rule out the appointment of a Cabinet Minister for the post. There is also speculation that an appreciation that the Yes campaign was due to a broad coalition could see the Taoiseach to nominate a non-Fianna Fáil figure who has cross-party support.
