McGrath appoints Knab-Lunny as head of new team

Ireland's new EU Commissioner Michael McGrath has appointed an Irish woman working within the EU institutions to head up his new team on the eve of the new Commission being approved by the European Parliament.

RTÉ News understands that Fiona Knab-Lunny, who has been working in the cabinet of the EU’s outgoing foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, will become Mr McGrath’s Chef de Cabinet.

She will be one of two Irish members of his six person team, the other being Kevin Barrett, formerly Mr McGrath’s special advisor when he was Minister for Finance.

Mr Barrett will become a policy expert in the Commissioner’s cabinet, it is understood.

Mr McGrath was confirmed as the Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law following a three hour hearing before a European Parliament committee earlier this month.

He is understood to have received over 500 CVs from candidates applying for a coveted position within his six-person cabinet, or within the secondary team of six staff.

A number of the Commissioner's team are understood to have been recruited directly from the cabinets of two outgoing Commissioners - Věra Jourová and Didier Reynders, respectively the Commissioner for Values and Transparency and the outgoing Justice Commissioner.

Mr McGrath is thought to have received around 70 applications from aspiring Irish candidates, both from within and without the EU institutions.

It is understood that around six Irish officials within the EU institutions have found positions within the cabinets of the other Commissioners.

Ms Knab-Lunny, 52, is understood to have worked in the European Commission for eight years and during the outgoing mandate worked on conflict prevention, human rights and humanitarian affairs, as well as relations with civil society.

It is understood Mr McGrath had spoken to Charmaine Hili, who is President Ursula von der Leyen’s outgoing justice expert, with a view to her becoming his head of cabinet.

However, it is understood that Ms Hili will remain within the Commission President’s cabinet for a second term.

Ms Von der Leyen will address MEPs in Strasbourg tomorrow morning ahead of a vote which is expected to see her new team of Commissioners approved by a majority of the chamber.

Irish MEPs from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour are expected to vote in favour of the new Commission, as is Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly.

Sinn Féin MEPs Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion, and Independent Luke 'Ming’ Flanagan, will reportedly vote against.