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Maire Geoghegan Quinn to become Research and Innovation Commissioner
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Brian Cowen went to Intel today to announce that Maire Geoghegan Quinn will be given the Research and Innovation Commissioner at the new EU Commission.
“In putting forward Máire Geoghegan Quinn as Ireland’s nominee for the new Commission, I felt that a candidate of very strong credentials and experience would help us to get a substantial portfolio in the new Commission. I am delighted to announce today that we have secured the hugely important Research and Innovation portfolio, which resonates very strongly with our own Smart Economy agenda. It is testament to the calibre of Máire Geoghegan Quinn that she has been allocated this portfolio .”
It looks like she will be taking over from the Science and Research portfolio from Janez Potocnik of the Czech Republic. It is probably a blessing we didn’t get budget or agriculture – both of which we seemed inclined to want despite the EU budget and our own being a bit of a pressure point and the forthcoming years of CAP reform that will kill farmers here.
It’s a real “everyone has won and all shall have prizes” situation. 7 vice presidents. I suppose we’re meant to be impressed with MGQ’s research portfolio but there are Digital Agenda and Industry/Entrepreneurship that seem equally relevant to the supposed Smart Economy plan. But it also confirms that Gordon Brown got played big time on the High Rep. for Foreign Affairs position. All the big economic portfolios have gone elsewhere.
It’s a minor portfolio. Serves us right for not proposing someone with the skills and political connections to get a decent portfolio.
This really is a hugely important portfolio, as the Taoiseach say’s, since the definition of innovation is defined as ‘ The Act of introducing something new’
I can’t wait. ???
Imagine a European Commissioner for the Act of introducing something new.
Never thought I’d see the day, but Cowen has managed to find someone even less qualified for their brief than Mary Coughlan is for Enterprise.
Now that’s a low, low bar, but MGQ slips under it with ease.
We got the role we deserved, considering the candidate we offered. May as well be the brief for Fresh Air and Blue Skies. The political hacks will spin furiously in an attempt to play up the role. However, it’s an entry level role for an entry level country. That’s where we weigh in at the moment.
Exactly what did she ever do that makes her qualified to take the position ?
The media in Ireland has welcomed the announcement. Why ? She is completely useless. She wanted to keep the Shannon stoppover in 1994. Getting rid of it was one the key policies that helped us get more investment from the US.