The Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has confirmed that the Taoiseach Enda Kenny is seen as a 'strong name' among the European People's Party (EPP) for the post of head of the European Commission.

However his actual prospects appear to have taken a further blow. The former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, has emerged as a frontrunner to be nominated by the biggest EU party.

"I would be in principle willing to run, if the programme and other things are right" Juncker told German RBB radio.

However his nomination could be opposed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, after Mr. Juncker was heavily critical of the role by Germany in the Eurozone crisis.

EU centre-right leaders have said they will decide on the name at an EPP congress in March in Dublin.

The Taoiseach has said he wants to lead Fine Gael into the next general election but remains hotly tipped as a candidate in other EU member states.

And speaking back in December, the Taoiseach seemed to rule himself out of taking up the job.