Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Government has nominated Mr. Kevin Cardiff, Secretary General at the Department of Finance for appointment to the European Court of Auditors. Mr. Cardiff will attend at hearings of the European Parliament and will, presumably, following his success there take up his job in March 2012. Mr. Eoin O'Shea's term of office will expire in February 2012.

Mr. Cardiff carries with him a long career of distinguished public service here and the credentials to do a first class job in respect of the European Court of Auditors. I can assure Deputy Ross that the process followed in respect of appointment of Mr. Cardiff's successor will be an open TLAC process, internationally advertised with the interview board comprising of an external chairman with business experience and will be fully open and accountable in respect of the person to be appointed as Mr. Cardiff's successor. This is as Members would wish. This will be nothing like the recommendation made in 2004 by Deputy Ross following the appointment of Mr. Burrows to the Bank of Ireland, at which time the Deputy, in criticism of that appointment, suggested that Seán Fitzpatrick of Anglo Irish Bank would be far too dynamic for the role.

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