Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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137. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to his officials in Dublin or Brussels regarding the future vacancies at head of the Commission or at Council level. [23899/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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After the European Parliament elections, the Heads of State and Government met on 28 May to discuss the outcome of the elections and procedures for the nominations to the high level appointments to the European institutions that fall to be made in the period ahead.

At that meeting, EU leaders mandated President Tusk to start consultations with EU Members States and the Parliament ahead of the June European Council meeting which takes place on 20 and 21 June and which will consider further the possible nominations.

We have been clear in our position that these high-level appointments should reflect geographical balance as well as demography. It is important that both large and smaller countries are represented in the highest positions in the EU.  In the spirit of the Treaties, gender as well as political balance, should also be taken into account.