"I have already received indications of support from my colleagues but of course all my colleagues will wait and see who all the candidates are," Paschal Donohoe told a news conference, adding that if Lane was not successful, the government would assess its options for future ECB roles at another time.

"The vice presidency of the ECB and not to mention the other three (ECB) roles that are coming after are all exceptionally serious and important roles and I believe Philip is of such a calibre that he will attract support from other member states... He is an eminently qualified candidate for this role."

(Reporting by Conor Humphries, writing by Padraic Halpin, Editing by William Maclean)