Fianna Fáil’s four MEPs intend to support European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen when the European Parliament votes on whether to approve the next EU executive as a whole next week.
Fianna Fáil MEPs broke ranks with their centrist grouping in the parliament in July, voting against Dr von der Leyen when she secured a second term at the top of the body that proposes EU laws.
All of Irish MEPs, apart from the four Fine Gael members, opposed Dr von der Leyen in the July vote, criticising her early response to the war in Gaza, which was seen as offering unconditional support to Israel after Hamas’ October 7th attacks.
At the time, Fianna Fáil’s opposition was criticised by Fine Gael as harming Ireland’s standing with Dr von der Leyen and denting the job prospects of former minister for finance Michael McGrath, who had been put forward to be Ireland’s next EU commissioner.
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Commissioners nominated by each country, who make up the political leadership sitting under Dr von der Leyen, passed individual confirmation hearings in the parliament this month. MEPs will now vote on whether to approve the new commission as a whole in a European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
The four Fianna Fáil MEPs – Billy Kelleher, Barry Cowen, Barry Andrews, and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú – all confirmed that they plan to vote to approve the new commission.
Ms Ní Mhurchú said while she voted against Dr von der Leyen getting another five years as commission president several months ago, things were now at a “different stage”. Her vote on Wednesday would be one of confidence in her Fianna Fáil colleague Mr McGrath, who had been given a “great and impactful position” as justice commissioner.
Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said he will likely vote in favour of the commission, despite having also vocally opposed Dr von der Leyen in July. Mr Ó Ríordáin said he was happy to have successfully pushed for an EU commissioner to be responsible for housing and was concerned about the destabilisation of European politics by the far right.
“At some point we have to get down to work, I’m minded at the moment to support the vote for the commission,” he said.
Ciaran Mullooly, an Independent Ireland MEP who sits in the Renew parliament group with Fianna Fáil members, is expected to vote in support of the commission as well. Michael McNamara, an Independent MEP for Ireland South also in the Renew group, did not respond to queries about his intentions.
Sinn Féin MEPs Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion and Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan will vote against the commission.
Fine Gael’s four MEPs, Sean Kelly, Regina Doherty, Maria Walsh and Nina Carberry, are expected to vote in favour of the commission.
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