Jack Chambers appointed Finance Minister as Michael McGrath ...
Jack Chambers has been appointed to the role of Finance Minister as Michael McGrath was announced as Irelands next EU Commissioner.
The recently appointed Fianna Fáil deputy leader will replace Michael McGrath in the Department of Finance.
The 33-year-old Dublin West TD will become one of the country's youngest finance ministers.
Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin said Minister Chambers is "very able and intelligent".
He will be Ireland's 12th EU Commissioner and Mr Harris will bring his name forward at a meeting of the European Council this week.
The Tánaiste said Mr Grath has "ensured a shrewd stewardship" of the economy and said one of his "great legacies" will be the future Ireland fund.
He said "nobody can doubt" Mr McGrath's "high calibre".
Mr McGrath said the nomination is an "incredible honour" and thanked his wife Sarah and his family.
He has said an economic or financial portfolio would “seem to be an obvious area” where his skills could be used at European level.
Asked about what portfolio he would hope to get, Mr McGrath said: “It is something we will discuss collectively over the days ahead.
“Obviously, the background that I have, my own qualifications, my political experience, all lie in the broad economic and financial area and that would seem to be an obvious area where my skills can be deployed.
“But it is something we will discuss over the days ahead. And as you know, when it comes to the allocation of different portfolios by the President of the Commission, there are many factors that come into play.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris said Mr McGrath is a nominee for "Ireland and everybody in the Irish government will proudly get behind Michael McGrath".
“I’m conscious that under our coalition agreement, this was a name brought forward by the Fianna Fail party, but I want to be very clear that this is a nominee for Ireland, and everybody in the Irish Government will proudly get behind Michael McGrath as our next EU commissioner,” he told reporters at Government Buildings in Dublin.
“As a Government and as a country, I believe we are lucky to have a person of such high ability and standing to bring forward as our country’s nominee. Michael is a very good colleague, a dedicated public servant, a skilled minister, and an extremely diligent and hard worker.
"These qualities, and indeed the experience he has developed at a European level as our finance minister, and many other qualities that he possesses, as both a politician and a person, will be key to his success.
“His new role though will not only be above party politics, but also above national politics too,” the Taoiseach added.
“As soon-to-be Commissioner McGrath will be tasked to take decisions in the European interest.”
Meanwhile, Jack Chambers will become one of the country's youngest finance ministers.
Since being re-elected to the Dáil in 2020, Mr Chambers has held a number of minister of state roles. He was junior minister in the Finance Department for just two weeks before moving up to become Government Chief Whip until 2022 – he was also a Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht and in the Department of Defence.
Following Leo Varadkar’s 2022 reshuffle, he was moved to become Minister of State at both the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment.
Today's News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday June 25
Meanwhile, the nomination of Mr McGrath to the EU Commission by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin was discussed at a meeting of the three Government coalition leaders on Monday evening.
Mr McGrath will earn more than €300,000-a-year in the position and will benefit from a range of lucrative allowances and expenses available to European Commissioners.
He will succeed Fine Gael-nominated commissioner Mairead McGuinness.
The departure of the Cork South Central TD from Government will necessitate at least a mini-reshuffle of the Fianna Fail-held portfolios.
