Brussels, 24/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - There is grumbling going on in Ireland about Hugh O'Flaherty's candidature to the post of vice-president of the European Investment Bank, envisaged by the government. Former Judge of the High Court of Ireland, Mr O'Flaherty had to resign one year ago, as the justice system had brought into question his intervention for the release of an architect (imprisoned for having killed the mother of a family during a car accident). The Irish Parliament was scheduled to discuss, on Wednesday, this candidature challenged in the Irish press. "There has been controversy over this, but Mr O'Flaherty's qualifications are splendid", declared Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern for his part; quoted by The Financial Times.
"For now, it is a domestic debate within the Irish nation", is the simple comment from the European Investment Bank. "It will be up to the EIB Governing Council to take a decision" and, at any rate, this Council "has not yet had the Irish candidature referred to it", remarked the spokesman' service for the Bank, Henry Marty-Gauquié.
The mandates of three of the eight vice-presidents of the EIB expire on 30 June: that of Spanish national Luis Martí, Italian Massimo Ponzellini, and that of Greek national Panaghiotis-Louka Gennimatas, for which Ireland will be applying. Ireland, Greece and Denmark in fact alternately share the seat of vice-president.