Michael McGrath

Michael McGrath (; born 23 August 1976) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection. He previously served as Minister for Finance from December 2022 to June 2024 and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2020 to 2022. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central constituency from 2007 to 2024.

Early life McGrath was born in 1976 and grew up in Passage West in Cork. His parents are described as having been non-political.

Political career 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.

McGrath was one of the few Fianna Fáil TDs to survive their disastrous performance in the 2011 general election.

At the 2016 general election, McGrath outpolled his party leader Micheál Martin, with whom he shares a constituency.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2020–2022) 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.

As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, McGrath was responsible for bringing forward Ireland's €165 billion National Development Plan 2021-2030 and negotiating two public sector-wide pay agreements.

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 the Peace Plus Programme, and Ireland's European Regional Development (ERDF) Programmes.

Minister for Finance (2022–2024) 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.

In Finance Bill 2023, McGrath steered a range of important and complex legislation through the Irish parliament including the transposition of the EU Minimum Taxation Directive.

In 2024 McGrath established two new long-term funds – the Future Ireland Fund, and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund – to underpin the sustainability and resilience of Ireland's public finances into the future.

Budget 2024 introduced a range of income tax reductions and measures to support domestic enterprise.

European Commissioner On 25 June 2024, he was named by the government as Ireland's nominee for European Commissioner. He was succeeded by Jack Chambers as Minister for Finance. On 17 September 2024, McGrath was announced as EU Commissioner-designate for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law. , his portfolio as Commissioner was defined as Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection.

Political views and profile 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.

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."

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. McGrath opposed the removal of Article 40.3.3° from the Irish constitution (which prevented the Oireachtas from legislating for abortion) during the 2018 abortion referendum.

Following the referendum being passed, McGrath then voted in favour of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, legislation which provided for the introduction of abortion.

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.

Before he was nominated European Commissioner, many political commentators had suggested McGrath as a potential contender for the leadership of Fianna Fáil.

Personal life 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 in Carrigaline, County Cork.

His brother Séamus McGrath won a seat at the 2024 Irish general election for the same constituency.