Brian Hayes: Donohoe in the running to chair EU power group

The Finance Minister is well regarded by his ministerial peers in the influential Eurogroup and if he succeeds in becoming its chairman, it would give Ireland considerable say on the EU’s response to the Covid-19 crisis

If Paschal Donohoe gets enough support from fellow ministers at next week's Eurogroup meeting to become its chair, it will see Ireland take the reins of the most influential economic position in Europe

The Eurogroup is probably the most powerful and the most united of any of the EU institutions. And while legally within the EU treaties its position does not have the status of say the European Parliament or European Commission – its influence in driving the Eurozone economy is now undisputed.

Since the financial crisis, a decade ago, the Eurogroup has been the key decision maker and enforcer behind Europe’s economic response. From EU bailouts to ...