Michael McGrath will take up his post once he has been approved by at least one committee in the European Parliament.
The hearings are expected in October but they could drift into November.
What will his duties as Justice Commissioner entail?
The headline responsibilities come under the Rule of Law concept and that includes strengthening European democracy, making sure elections are free and fair and cracking down on corruption.
Mr McGrath will also be responsible for ensuring consumer protection for the EU's 450 million citizens and already a number of Irish observers have wondered if that will include those stricken by the mica scandal in Donegal.
He will also be in charge of how GDPR is implemented within the member states, a sensitive enough issue, given the large-scale presence of global tech companies in Ireland.
In her mission letter to Mr McGrath, the European Commission President wrote: "Europe's democracy and economy rely on justice and the rule of law.
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"It makes our society work and ensures that rights are defended, corruption is punished, and contracts are enforced.
"Europe's economy and sustainable prosperity are heavily dependent on an effective justice system.
"Rule of Law ensures that citizens can have confidence in state power being exercised fairly and objectively.
"It is a prerequisite for upholding our fundamental rights and values and it is crucial for the smooth functioning of our single market."
The highest profile task will be Rule of Law, taking member states to task if there is democratic backsliding.
Hungary has been at loggerheads with the EU for several years on the issue, and Mr McGrath will be expected to lock horns with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on allegations of media manipulation and general breaches of the EU’s fundamental values.
The EU has threatened to trigger an Article 7 dispute which would withdraw certain voting rights from Hungary, but so far there has been no consensus at member state level.
The Commission has already held up cohesion and Covid-19 recovery funds as part of a long-running dispute with Budapest.
Part of Mr McGrath’s role will be to lead the Commission’s annual Rule of Law Report, coordinating work in reporting on judicial independence, anti-corruption, media freedom and other institutional checks and balances, and following up on the implementation of recommendations with member states.
A new dimension to the Rule of Law issue will be the Single Market, ensuring that companies, especially SMEs, are protected when they trade across borders.
Mr McGrath will have to ensure that the same standards are evolving in enlargement candidate countries, including Ukraine.
He will also be obliged to strengthen the European Arrest Warrant, which allows for the swift extradition of suspects across member state borders, and how to beef up the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), in particular when it comes to cross-border corruption and organised crime.
Ireland and Denmark both have opt-outs from the EPPO.
Michael McGrath will have a heavily staffed Commission directorate (ie, civil service department) at his disposal, known as DG JUST.
He will have a few weeks to appoint his cabinet, a close geographically balanced inner team, that will potentially involve three Irish and three non-Irish staff, who should also be gender balanced (three male, three female).
There will be an outer team of six more officials reflecting the same geographic and gender balance.
Ms von der Leyen has asked the commissioner-designate to lead work on a new European Democracy Shield in order to address the most severe risks to democracy in the EU.
He will also be expected to work with other commissioners on cracking down on foreign misinformation, challenging manipulation and interference, as well as ensuring that political candidates in member states are protected from threats to their security.
His role also includes protecting independent media and journalists, in particular protecting them against abusive lawsuits (SLAPPs) and other pressures.
