Fianna Fáil’s four MPs intend to back European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen when the European Parliament votes on whether to approve the next EU executive as a whole next week.

Fianna Fáil MPs broke ranks with their central grouping in parliament in July, voting against Dr von der Leyen as she secured a second term at the top of the body that proposes EU laws.

All Irish MPs, apart from the four Fine Gael members, opposed Dr von der Leyen in the July vote, criticizing her early response to the war in Gaza, which was seen as offering unconditional support to Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks.

At the time, Fianna Fáil’s opposition was criticized by Fine Gael for damaging Ireland’s standing with Dr von der Leyen and hurting the job prospects of former finance minister Michael McGrath, who had been tipped to be Ireland’s next EU commissioner.

Commissioners nominated by each country, who make up the political leadership under Dr von der Leyen, passed individual confirmation hearings in parliament this month. MEPs will now vote on whether to approve the new commission as a whole in an EU parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

The four Fianna Fáil MPs – Billy Kelleher, Barry Cowen, Barry Andrews and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú – all confirmed they plan to vote to approve the new commission.

Ní Mhurchú said that while she voted against Dr von der Leyen getting another five years as commission president several months ago, things were now at a “different stage”. Her vote on Wednesday would be one of confidence in her Fianna Fáil colleague Mr McGrath, who had been given a “big and impactful position” as justice commissioner.

Labor MP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said he is likely to vote for the commission, despite also vocally opposing Dr von der Leyen in July. Mr Ó Ríordáin said he was delighted to have successfully pushed for an EU commissioner to be responsible for housing and was concerned about the destabilization of European politics by the far right.

“At some point we have to get down to business, I’m currently set on supporting the vote on the commission,” he said.

Ciaran Mullooly, an independent Irish MP who sits on the Renew parliamentary group with members of Fianna Fáil, is also expected to vote for the commission. Michael McNamara, an independent MEP for Southern Ireland, also in the Renew group, did not respond to questions about his intentions.

Sinn Féin MPs Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion and independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan will vote against the commission.

Fine Gael’s four MPs, Sean Kelly, Regina Doherty, Maria Walsh and Nina Carberry, are expected to vote for the commission.