Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

He probably was. It was certainly commented on in the European institutions. The Government decided that, instead of appointing a former politician, somebody associated with politics or one of the political parties in government or another alternative that naturally would have brought criticism on us, it would appoint a senior civil servant who fitted the requirements of the post.

We decided to nominate the Secretary General of the Department of Finance, a senior civil servant who would serve as the Irish representative on the European Court of Auditors. That is why we made the decision.

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