Politics

Sketch: Splutters among Sinn Féin backbenchers greet Dáil substitute Michael McGrath

The Minister for Public Expenditure deputised for the Taoiseach at Leader’s Questions

Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath. Picture: Rollingnews.ie

Michael McGrath was given the role of the Dáil Substitute while Taoiseach Micheál Martin was addressing the Cop 27 conference in Egypt

The mild-mannered Minister for Public Expenditure was the first choice Fianna Fáil minister to step in for the first session of Leaders’ Questions as TDs returned from their one-week Halloween break.

McGrath arrived in with a big black folder, bulging with briefing papers drawn up in anticipation of the questions from opposition party ...