Twenty-seven years ago, a Fianna Fáil taoiseach broke with political tradition by awarding the most plum posting in his gift – the job of European commissioner – to a Fine Gael politician.

Charlie Haughey's motives in appointing Dick Burke were certainly not altruistic. They were not born of a desire to build a cross-party consensus on Europe. Including the vote of independent Fianna Fáil deputy Neil Blaney, Haughey was one TD short of the magic 83 that would give a Dáil majority. He offered the commissionership to Burke in the hope that Fianna Fáil would win the subsequent by-election in Dublin West.

The move backfired. Despite throwing the kitchen sink at the constituency before polling day – including infamously delivering a truck-load of trees to a housing estate in Clonsilla that were dug up and returned from whence they came after the by-election – the unknown Fine Gael candidate Liam Skelly defeated Fianna Fáil's Eileen Lemass. Fianna Fáil remained stuck at 81 seats and Haughey had given the most sought-after posting in public life to Fine Gael.

Of the eight commissioners that have been appointed since Ireland joined the EU, Burke's appointment in 1982 was the only time that a government did not appoint somebody who was sitting at cabinet. Burke was education minister when he was appointed to the job for the first time in 1976 by the Fine Gael-Labour national coalition. Paddy Hillery, Michael O'Kennedy, Ray MacSharry, Pádraig Flynn and Charlie McCreevy were all senior cabinet ministers when they got the nod from the Fianna Fáil taoiseach of the day. Peter Sutherland and David Byrne were both serving as attorney general – in Fine Gael-Labour and Fianna Fáil-PD governments respectively – when they were appointed.

But with a new commissioner due to be appointed in the autumn, it's time for Brian Cowen to dispense with political patronage (which is not to suggest that those appointed were not worthy of the job – they performed well in their postings) and appoint somebody from outside the Fianna Fáil family.

For practical reasons, he is unlikely to appoint one of his own ministers. Mary Harney and Noel Dempsey would be well qualified for the position of EU Commissioner and, in more normal times, would be seen as the front-runners. (Harney may not be in Fianna Fáil but she is family.) However, these are not normal times.

First, the government would have virtually no hope of holding either of their seats in a by-election. Second, Ireland's reputation has been so damaged in Brussels by our 'no' vote in the Lisbon referendum that something (and somebody) very different is called for.

Despite what the 'no' campaigners will tell you, Ireland's name is mud in the European Union. No longer the plucky outsider beloved of everyone, we are now regarded – not without justification – as more akin to an ungrateful and over-indulged child.

Ireland has some serious bridge-building to do in Europe. The likely 'yes' vote in the autumn Lisbon II referendum will certainly help. But a lot of work needs to be done behind the scenes to restore good relations with our EU partners.

Of course, in theory, the new commissioner is not there to represent Ireland. But it would send out a powerful signal of our good will if Cowen were to appoint a heavy-hitter with a high profile in Brussels. It would also help to ensure that the next Irish commissioner does not end up in the commission's equivalent of the arts, sport and tourism ministry.

Two obvious candidates stand out who would have the necessary profile, credibility, stature and experience: former taoiseach John Bruton and former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox.

Bruton's domestic CV requires little explanation, but he has also apparently excelled in his posting as EU ambassador in Washington. The word in Brussels is that Bruton would have the best chance of getting a heavyweight position in the new commission.

Cox is another who would need little introduction in Europe's corridors of power. He knows how the EU works and, more importantly, how to work the EU. He is also a passionate Europhile and will be one of the leading campaigners for a 'yes' vote in the forthcoming referendum. Appointing him would be a very obvious signal that Ireland remains committed to the European project.

While the national interest must be paramount, it would be naive to expect that politics will play no role in the appointment. For that reason, Cox looks the favourite. Appointing a former PD would be a smaller leap for a Fianna Fáil leader than opting for a former Fine Gael taoiseach. Fianna Fáil is also now a member of the liberal ELDR in Europe, which was Cox's party during his tenure in the European parliament.

It's possible to make a case for Cox over Bruton (arguably better on the diplomatic front) and Bruton over Cox (more executive experience), but either would be an excellent appointment for Ireland.

Brian Cowen has been accused (perhaps fairly) of being a tribal politician and (definitely unfairly) of putting Fianna Fáil's interests before the country. A decisive move to appoint either Cox or Bruton would go a long way towards refuting those criticisms. He wins; the country wins. It's what the Americans call a 'no-brainer'. The taoiseach should make the appointment without delay.