Politics

Dáil reels as Donohoe and McGrath prepare to move on up

If the two finance chiefs leave, it will leave their party leaders with a headache ahead of the last budget before the general election

Paschal Donohoe, the minister for public expenditure, was being eyed up as the next head of the International Monetary Fund, while Michael McGrath, the finance minister, appeared to leave the door open to the idea of his becoming Ireland’s European Commissioner next summer

And just like that, the prospect that this time next year neither of the two current heavyweight financial ministers will still be in place has become a very real political consideration for the coalition.

Reports that Paschal Donohoe, the minister for public expenditure, was being eyed up as the next head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were still sending shockwaves through the Irish political establishment last week when, on RTÉ radio, Michael McGrath, the ...