Michael McGrath (born 23 August 1976) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister for Finance since December 2022. He previously served as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2020 to 2022. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central constituency since 2007.[1][2]
Michael McGrath | |
|---|---|
.jpg) McGrath in 2014 | |
| Minister for Finance | |
| Assumed office 17 December 2022 | |
| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Paschal Donohoe |
| Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform | |
| In office 27 June 2020 – 17 December 2022 | |
| Taoiseach | Micheál Martin |
| Preceded by | Paschal Donohoe |
| Succeeded by | Paschal Donohoe |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office May 2007 | |
| Constituency | Cork South-Central |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 August 1976 Cork, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse |
Sarah McGrath (m. 2004) |
| Children | 7 |
| Alma mater | University College Cork |
Early life edit
McGrath was born in Cork in 1976. He studied commerce at University College Cork and later qualified as a chartered accountant. His parents are described as having been non-political.[3]
Political career edit
He was a member of Passage West Town Council from 1999 to 2007, and a member of Cork County Council for the Carrigaline local electoral area from 2004 to 2007.[2] McGrath was first elected to the Dáil in 2007,[2] and subsequently, he co-opted his brother Séamus to his county council seat. Séamus would, reportedly, become McGrath's closest political confidant.[3]
McGrath was one of the few Fianna Fáil TDs to survive their disastrous performance in the 2011 general election.[4] In the aftermath, McGrath became the Opposition Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Financial Sector Reform, but also held the role of Spokesperson for Finance following the death of Brian Lenihan in June 2011.
McGrath represented Fianna Fáil in the Oireachtas delegation that met the Bundestag's Budgetary and European Affairs committees, in Berlin in late January 2012.[5] He represented Fianna Fáil in talks on government formation in 2016 and 2020.[6]
At the 2020 general election, McGrath outpolled his party leader Micheál Martin, with whom he shares a constituency.[7][8]
In June 2020, following the formation of a coalition government between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, McGrath was appointed as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. McGrath became Minister for Finance on 17 December 2022 as part of a cabinet reshuffle when Leo Varadkar succeeded Micheál Martin as Taoiseach as agreed in the coalition deal between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party.[9]
Political views and profile edit
McGrath has been described by the Phoenix magazine as being on the right wing of Fianna Fáil and as conservative, both socially and economically.[3][7][10] McGrath opposed the removal of Article 40.3.3 from the Irish constitution, which prevented the Oireachtas from legislating for abortion, during the 2018 Irish referendum.[3][7] McGrath then voted in favour of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, legislation which provided for the introduction of abortion.[11][12]
Fiscally, McGrath has opposed calls from within his own party to increase social welfare allowances and has been called a proponent of economic orthodoxy.[3][7] A chartered accountant, McGrath has been described as "technocratic" and likened to a civil servant in his approach to politics. His grasp of economics, as well as his attention to detail, have been praised as his strong points.[3][7][13][4]
As of 2022[update], many political commentators in Ireland have suggested that McGrath is a potential contender for the leadership of Fianna Fáil the next time the position comes up for contention.[8][3][7][14][15]
Personal life edit
McGrath is married to Sarah McGrath since 2004, they met while working as trainees at the same Accountancy firm. They have seven children, five boys and two girls, his family home is in Carrigaline, County Cork.[16]
References edit
- ^ "Michael McGrath". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ a b c "Michael McGrath". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Profile: Michael McGrath FF". The Phoenix. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ a b McConnell, Daniel (3 October 2020). "Michael McGrath seen by colleagues as ultimate 'safe pair of hands'". The Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Oireachtas delegation in Bundestag meeting". RTÉ News. 26 January 2012. Archived from the original on 29 January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ^ McGee, Harry (12 March 2016). "Fianna Fáil's negotiating team for government talks revealed". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Profile: Michael McGrath". The Phoenix. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ a b "OPINION: Was Martin too clever by half supporting abortion?". The Southern Star. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
You see, his FF running mate, the very personable Michael McGrath, marginally outpolled the leader and, since then, mischievous voices within the ranks of the Soldiers of Destiny have been suggesting that McGrath was the up-and-coming Mr Big and would make a better head honcho than Martin.
- ^ Lehane, Mícheál (4 November 2022). "Govt to nominate Donohoe for second term at Eurogroup".
- ^ "Profile: Jack Chambers". The Phoenix. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
Public expenditure minister Michael McGrath is one of the most conservative members of the parliamentary party.
- ^ Conneely, Ailbhe (23 October 2018). "Second stage of abortion legislation passed by Dáil overwhelmingly".
- ^ Oireachtas, Houses of the (5 December 2018). "Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) – Wednesday, 5 Dec 2018 – Houses of the Oireachtas". www.oireachtas.ie. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ O'Halloran, Marie (27 February 2016). "Profile: Michael McGrath (FF)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ O'Connor, Alison (16 December 2022). "Alison O'Connor: McGrath could use his finance role to win party leadership in contest". The Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ Hughes, Craig (15 September 2022). "Majority favour new Fianna Fáil leader by next election". Extra.ie. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
There are several contenders in the Fianna Fáil dressing room vying to succeed Mr Martin. Michael McGrath, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, is the current favourite.
- ^ "Finance Minister: Weekends with my seven children are cherished (and crazy!)". Extra.ie. 8 January 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.