Michael McGrath | |
|---|---|
.jpg) McGrath in 2024 | |
| European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law | |
| Assumed office 1 December 2024 | |
| Commission | Von der Leyen II |
| Preceded by | Didier Reynders |
| Minister for Finance | |
| In office 17 December 2022 – 26 June 2024 | |
| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Paschal Donohoe |
| Succeeded by | Jack Chambers |
| 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 | |
| In office May 2007 – November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Cork South-Central |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1976-08-23)23 August 1976 (age 49) Cork, Ireland |
| Party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 7 |
| Relatives | Séamus McGrath (brother) |
| Alma mater | University College Cork |
Michael McGrath (/məˈɡræh/;[1][2] born 23 August 1976) is an IrishFianna Fáil politician andEU Commissioner forDemocracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection.[3] He previously served asMinister for Finance from December 2022 to June 2024 andMinister for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2020 to 2022. He was aTeachta Dála (TD) for theCork South-Central constituency from2007 to2024.[4][5]
McGrath was born in 1976 and grew up inPassage West inCork. His parents are described as having been non-political.[6] He studied commerce atUniversity College Cork and later qualified as achartered accountant with KPMG and worked subsequently as Financial Controller ofRedFM and Head of Management Information and Systems, University College Cork.[7]
He was a member ofPassage West Town Council from 1999 to 2007, and a member ofCork County Council for theCarrigaline local electoral area from 2004 to 2007.[5] McGrath was first elected to the Dáil in 2007,[5] and subsequently, his brother Séamus was co-opted to his county council seat. Séamus would, reportedly, become McGrath's closest political confidant and secured the largest number of votes in the 2024 Irish Local Elections.[8]
McGrath was one of the few Fianna Fáil TDs to survive their disastrous performance in the2011 general election.[9] In the aftermath, McGrath became the Opposition Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform but also held the role of Spokesperson for Finance following the death ofBrian Lenihan in June 2011.
McGrath represented Fianna Fáil in the Oireachtas delegation that met theBundestag's Budgetary and European Affairs committees, inBerlin in late January 2012.[10]
At the2016 general election, McGrath outpolled his party leaderMicheál Martin, with whom he shares a constituency.[11][12]
He represented Fianna Fáil intalks on government formation in 2016 and 2020.[13]
In June 2020, following the formation of a coalition government between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and theGreen Party, McGrath was appointed asMinister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, McGrath was responsible for bringing forward Ireland's €165 billionNational Development Plan 2021-2030 and negotiating two public sector-wide pay agreements.[14][15]
He also developed Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (Next Generation EU) and was responsible for the Brexit Adjustment Reserve fund, the development of thePeace Plus Programme, and Ireland'sEuropean Regional Development (ERDF) Programmes.[16][17][18]
McGrath becameMinister 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.[19]
InFinance Bill 2023, McGrath steered a range of important and complex legislation through the Irish parliament including the transposition of the EU Minimum Taxation Directive.[20]
In 2024 McGrath established two new long-term funds – theFuture Ireland Fund, and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund – to underpin the sustainability and resilience of Ireland's public finances into the future.[21]
Budget 2024 introduced a range of income tax reductions and measures to support domestic enterprise.[22]
On 25 June 2024, he was named by the government as Ireland's nominee for European Commissioner.[23] He was succeeded byJack Chambers as Minister for Finance.[24] On 17 September 2024, McGrath was announced as EU Commissioner-designate for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law.[3] He is responsible for theDigital Fairness Act.[25] As of May 2025[update], his portfolio as Commissioner was defined asDemocracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection.[26]
In a party conference speech in April 2024, McGrath gave an insight into the influences on his political outlook highlighting that as a family “The State was there for us when we needed it,” adding that he was able to go to college with the help of scholarships while many societies around the world would have denied someone like him the opportunity to progress.[27]
He has expressed his support for public expenditure stating "We are a party that believes everyone should have the opportunity to progress irrespective of their background. We believe there should be a safety net for everyone that needs it."[28]
In Government, McGrath established a close working relationship with Fine Gael Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe which was viewed as a key dynamic underpinning the coalition Government.[27]
McGrath has been described bythe Phoenix magazine as being on the right wing of Fianna Fáil and as conservative, both socially and economically.[6][11][29] McGrath opposed the removal of Article 40.3.3° from the Irish constitution (which prevented the Oireachtas from legislating for abortion) during the2018 abortion referendum.[6][11][30]
Following the referendum being passed, McGrath then voted in favour of theHealth (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, legislation which provided for the introduction of abortion.[31][32]
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.[6][11][33][9]
Before he was nominated European Commissioner, many political commentators had suggested McGrath as a potential contender for the leadership of Fianna Fáil.[12][6][11][34][35]
McGrath has been 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 inCarrigaline, County Cork.[36]
His brotherSéamus McGrath won a seat at the2024 Irish general election for the same constituency.[37]
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.
Public expenditure minister Michael McGrath is one of the most conservative members of the parliamentary party.
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.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 2020–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Finance 2022–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Irish European Commissioner 2024–present | Incumbent |
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