Taoiseach Simon Harris has insisted that Ireland will not be nominating a female candidate for the role of European Commissioner.
It followed a request from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a second candidate to be nominated, to help her achieve gender balance in the commission.
Speaking at the Irish Embassy in Paris this morning, Mr Harris insisted that the Government's position was clear and that it would only be nominating Michael McGrath, which was in line with EU treaties.
Asked if Ms von der Leyen were to insist on a second candidate, whether it would be another Fianna Fáil choice, Mr Harris said that the question does not arise.
Speaking yesterday, he pointed out that Mr McGrath had stood down from his role as minister for finance to prepare for the commissioner selection process.
Mr Harris said that it would be unfair to the tell him that he now has a "50/50" chance of being selected as commissioner.
Mr Harris added that he believed there was an "understanding" of that at European level.
RTÉ funding
The Taoiseach also said that funding allocated to RTÉ this week will not come from the current Department of Social Protection budget.
Mr Harris said that assurances had been given at this week's Cabinet meeting that the Department of Social Protection will be allocated money for any funding requirement it has for RTÉ.
Taoiseach hosts Team Ireland families
Mr Harris, meanwhile, has hosted the families of Team Ireland athletes at the Irish embassy in Paris.
The Taoiseach said that it was important to recognise the support structure behind Ireland's athletes.
Mr Harris was among other world leaders who attended the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games last night. He said that the poor weather did not dampen the spirits of Irish participants.
He told reporters this morning that this was the first Olympic Games where Team Ireland would achieve close to parity in terms of gender balance.
He said: "A hundred years ago Ireland participated for the first time in the Olympics as an independent state and it was here in this city as well.
"On that occasion we sent a grand total of zero women athletes. In 1964 we sent one female athlete and today out of a squad of 133 athletes, 66 are women".
Later today the Taoiseach will attend hockey, gymnastic, swimming and rugby events.
