Máire Geoghegan Quinn has been nominated as Ireland's next European Commissioner. Taoiseach Brian Cowen announced the nomination after weeks of speculation.

The nomination will be good news for Commission president Manuel Barroso who has been struggling to find women for his cabinet in order to strike a gender balance. Barroso had previously promised to boost gender equality within the European Commission.

Despite being out of national politics since 1997, Máire Geoghegan Quinn is regarded as well qualified for a position within the Commission earning a reputation as a tough politician in her Fianna Fáil days. She is also considered well versed in the workings of the EU having spent the past six years as Ireland's member of the European Court of Auditors based in Luxembourg.

However, much criticism has surrounded her appointment with many saying that her status as a member of Fianna Fáil was what ultimately may had swayed the Taoiseach's final decision.

Barroso will now have to assign a portfolio to Geoghegan Quinn with speculation surrounding her appointment as Budget or Innovation Commissioner appearing in the media.

When the Commission is fully named and all portfolios are assigned, each Commissioner will have to appear before the European Parliament for final approval and scrutiny as well getting approval from all EU heads of state via the European Council.