McCreevy, who plans to retire from political life at that stage, indicated that he may follow the lead of former Irish commissioner Peter Sutherland, who is currently chairman of both BP and Goldman Sachs International.

He said, however, that obtaining such prominent positions depended on the wishes of other people. "You just don't do things like that.

You don't say 'I want to do something like that', " said McCreevy.

"[Then again] I certainly have a lot of experience if you look at what my background, which was in accountancy, taxation and business. Then I was a minister and I ended up with this particular position. So I'll wait and see what's available."

But McCreevy said that he had not given his future too much thought beyond the fact that he wanted to retire from politics.

"From my point of view, if I live for the next two years, I would have spent nearly 33 years effectively in politics . . .well over half my life and it's time to do something else."

He added that he did not view retirement as an option, even though he will be 60 when he is due to leave the European Commission.

"I intend to work. I like working. I always have liked working. I like meeting people, like getting up in the morning, like working and like having some time off work, " he said.

"Politics has never been the be all and end all of my life: it's a job and [when I leave the commission] it will be time for something else."