A SPOKESMAN for the European Commission has apologised for a comment posted by its Facebook account which appeared to belittle Germany’s controversial EU commissioner Gunther Oettinger.

The official Facebook page for the Commission’s offices in Ireland this morning posted a clarification from Oettinger, who had been reported as favouring a proposal to have Ireland’s flags fly at half-mast at EU buildings.

“In the interview I did not propose this idea, nor did I support it,” Oettinger’s statement said. “Moreover, I did not refer to any particular country.”

A number of comments – criticial of Oettinger’s comments in spite of the clarification – were posted afterwards, to which the Commission’s account replied:

Apparently the Commissioner has ‘form’ in the foot in mouth department.

The comment was removed shortly after TheJournal.ie called to seek clarification on the comment.

A spokesman for the commission’s offices said the comment was “not an official remark from the commission” – and explained that someone from the office had “got a bit excited”.

Oettinger’s reported remarks are set to be discussed in the Dáil later today when it holds its first-ever discussion on ‘topical issues’.

Read: German commissioner insists he doesn’t support ‘half-mast’ idea >

Yesterday: Germany’s EU commissioner wants Irish flag flown at half-mast >

Already a fan? Connect below...

Pop culture, web gems and social Ireland, Daily Edge via Facebook. Just click Like.