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McGrath gets thumbs up from Fine Gaelers, but surprise expressed on Chambers' leap to finance

McGrath is seen by some Fine Gael TDs to be ‘more open with the purse strings’ than their very own Paschal Donohoe.

LESS THAN AN hour after Michael McGrath had been announced as nominee for Ireland’s next EU Commissioner, the exiting finance minister was in the Dáil canteen with his wife Sarah. 

No sooner had they set their lunch trays down in the corner, McGrath was beset with well-wishers from all political parties.

“Well done”, “delighted for you”, “congratulations” they said as they shook his hand. 

It was a big day for the Cork man and father of seven, who was first elected to Passage West Town Council in 1999 aged just 22, before moving onto Cork County Council, the Dáil and then Cabinet. 

Now he is onto an even bigger stage. 

In the courtyard of Government Buildings earlier this morning, McGrath said he is “immensely excited” to have the opportunity to help shape policy across the European Union.

He regaled to reporters how 25 years ago this month he ran for election for the very first time, though he added he was a “much more fresh faced 22 year old” back then. 

Tanaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin described McGrath as a “very able, intelligent, highly effective politician”.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Simon Harris said he is “a dedicated public servant, a skilled minister and an extremely diligent and hard worker”.

“For me, this isn’t about tribal politics or party politics or partisan politics, just by putting our best foot forward and about sending the best person that we can to the European Commission,” said Harris. 

So what is the thinking behind McGrath going to Brussels?

A “high-calibre” candidate was always going to be needed for such a prestigious position in Europe, with government sources stating that there were really only two options open to them: McGrath or Martin. 

The Tánaiste is understood to have toyed with the idea, but it soon became clear over the last year that he wanted to stay put and lead his party into the next general election. 

McGrath was therefore the chosen one for some time now, with many The Journal spoke to stating that they were not surprised by the appointment. 

While those within his own party will of course sing his praises, it is interesting to note that those in Fine Gael also have complimentary things to say about the Cork man. 

‘Decent and non partisan’

“McGrath is well liked across all parties. He is very decent and not partisan,” said one senior Fine Gael minister. 

“Fine Gaelers like McGrath,” said one Fine Gael TD, stating that he is “very capable”.

Another said there is “no negativity” towards McGrath from the Fine Gael benches, adding that if anything, he was seen by Fine Gael TDs to be “more open with the purse strings” than their very own Paschal Donohoe. 

They said it would often be said in jest that “it was easier to get €100 million out of McGrath than €1 million out of Paschal”. 

the-minister-for-finance-michael-mcgrath-td-right-and-the-minister-for-public-expenditure-national-development-plan-delivery-and-reform-paschal-donohoe-td-speaking-during-a-press-conference-at Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

While most in Fine Gael said the decision was the right choice, there were some concerns about the job McGrath might end up getting in Brussels. 

One said it is likely McGrath would get a “mid-tier job” such as internal markets and competition, while if the Tánaiste had decided to take on the Commissioner role, a job higher up the ladder might have been available for a former Taoiseach. 

This Fine Gaeler also raised concerns about Fianna Fáil MEPs not backing Ursula von der Leyen for the European Commissioner job and questioned whether it might have an impact when the Commissioner roles are being doled out. 

All four Fianna Fáil MEPs — Barry Andrews, Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú – pledged to voters in the run up to the European election that they would not vote for von der Leyen to have another term. 

Martin said this week that he would engage with his MEPs ahead of the vote, though as it is a secret ballot, the party whip would prove ineffective. 

Overall, those that spoke to this publication said that McGrath would do a good job in Europe.

Those in Fianna Fáil obviously see it as a successful day for the party, though some now question the direction for the future. 

Jack Chambers tipped for the top

McGrath would have been an obvious successor for leadership — but now there’s speculation that Jack Chambers, the new finance minister, is tipped for the top. 

Those within his own party told The Journal that Chambers is well-liked by party colleagues, but is also described as a hard worker and “well able” for the task ahead of him. 

The Tánaiste likes and trusts Chambers, according to those within his own party, who state that Martin sees him as a possible successor. 

former-taoiseach-bertie-ahern-left-and-jack-chambers-minister-of-state-at-the-department-of-transport-arrive-for-the-state-funeral-of-former-taoiseach-john-bruton-at-saints-peters-and-pauls-chur Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Jack Chambers. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

There is no doubt that the Dublin West TD has made quite the leap — from junior ministry right into one of the most senior positions at the Cabinet table. 

Less than a week after he was appointed as the new deputy leader of Fianna Fail, Chambers now finds himself with a number of challenges on his desk. 

He’ll have to contend with the Summer Economic Statement shortly, before entering into the budget negotiations, where be will have to put a shape on the tax package. 

He will also find himself dealing with budget kites flown by his coalition partners in Fine Gael, such as inheritance tax and the 9% VAT.

What do Fine Gaelers make of the appointment? 

“Delighted for him,” said one, who predicted that he might become Ireland’s second gay Taoiseach one day. 

However, others within Fine Gael expressed their surprise at the appointment, stating that there are concerns about the lack of experience as he has never led a department before.

The general feeling in Fine Gael is that Junior Minister Dara Calleary would have made a good finance minister, and questioned the “strange carry on” of appointing Chambers the deputy leadership just a week ago. 

One TD said putting someone from a junior position in the finance ministry might be a good way for the Tánaiste to run the show during budget negotiations. 

Another deputy agreed, but added: 

“One thing is clear from all this, Micheál Martin plans to be around for a good while yet.”

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26 Comments
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    Mute Mark Bow
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    Nov 21st 2019, 10:36 AM

    Reporting of assaults, not actual assaults and figures also need to be adjusted for population growth. Lazy reporting.

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    Mute Nicky O'Donnell
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    Nov 21st 2019, 10:57 AM

    @Mark Bow: No it’s not lazy reporting. You’re a lazy reader who doesn’t want to acknowledge facts. A 36% increase clearly cannot be accounted for by population growth, nether can the increase in reports of previously uncommon sexual violent acts such as choking. We need to acknowledge that young boys in this country have a serious problem and drastic changes to the way we talk about issues surrounding sex and gender equality in schools are needed immediately.

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    Mute Mejo
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:22 AM

    @Nicky O’Donnell: ‘We need to acknowledge that young boys in this country have a serious problem’ what’s the serious problem then? Do you mean all young boys? Most are sound but folk like you make them out to be monsters, no wonder they kill themselves such numbers!

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    Mute Veronica
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:33 AM

    @Mejo: what’s the serious problem? That pornography consumption is utterly ruining boys’ idea of sexuality and they’re inflicting that view on girls. Don’t dare act like we aren’t facing some big problems with how boys view girls. “Not all boys/men” obviously, but clearly not enough of you “good ones” are taking to your brothers that have warped views.

    For gods sake a young girl was recently murdered by two boys and you have the gall to suggest that talking about this is leading boys to kill themselves??

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    Mute Mark Bow
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:53 AM

    @Veronica: obviously girls don’t look at porn.

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    Mute Mark Bow
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    Nov 21st 2019, 12:00 PM

    @Nicky O’Donnell: I did reply to this before, but moderated our apparently. I’ve raised a lot of money for Cari. Just think the reporting is lazy and now I can add that the reporter is censoring out their own failure.

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    Mute Mark Bow
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    Nov 21st 2019, 1:49 PM

    @Nicky O’Donnell: correction, “ young boys and girls” there fixed it for you!

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    Mute Perlum Sprite
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:10 AM

    I like most others, have had the internet in my home now for 25 years – that’s an entire generation.

    Free porn on demand for 25 years and still little to no evidence, despite research, that porn is actually harmful.

    If anything there’s international evidence, particularly fron the US, that teens are having less sex than previous generations.

    25 years of free porn, yet it’s only now, this year, that ‘choking’ has become a worrying development?

    How is that so? It’s difficult to explain.

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    Mute Dave Lynch
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:33 AM

    @Perlum Sprite: 100% agree – free porn at the touch of a button gives teens a warped view of reality.

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    Mute Veronica
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:36 AM

    @Perlum Sprite: it’s not difficult to explain at all.

    Has the porn online changed in terms of violence and brutality and extremity in those years? Was DP or rosebudding mainstream things 25 years ago?

    Porn is a huge problem, and instead of championing young people having less sex (don’t know if you’re ultra religious or what), we should be helping young people have a healthy view of sexuality so that they can enjoy mutually fulfilling sex lives. Sex is such an important part of life for most people, and we should want young people to enjoy exploring it in loving ways, rather than choking each other and expecting it to be violent.

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    Mute Chewey Bacca
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:44 AM

    @Veronica: I’m just off to google Rosebudding….. Sweet Jaysus V we are all doomed

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    Mute Rachel O' Meara
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    Nov 21st 2019, 12:01 PM

    @Veronica: Crikey Veronica, I don’t live under a rock but I genuinely had to google ‘rosebudding’, not alot of people would know I’d imagine, I’d say it’s not a stretch to guess what you’re into. :\

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Nov 21st 2019, 12:18 PM

    @Rachel O’ Meara: I had to look it up, too. Yikes!!!

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    Mute Dave Lynch
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    Nov 21st 2019, 12:22 PM

    @Veronica: Rosebudding – holy god tonight!

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    Mute Veronica
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    Nov 21st 2019, 12:39 PM

    @Rachel O’ Meara: I didn’t think I came across as the sort of person who didn’t practice what I preach :D

    I don’t consume porn, it doesn’t get me off and even if it did I can’t stand to see women being abused. I am a fan of erotic fiction and spending “quality time” with my partner though (wink wink nudge nudge). I definitely find my sex life much more fulfilling now than I did in late teens when I did watch porn. Sensuality is where it’s at, especially with another person!

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    Mute Veronica
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    Nov 21st 2019, 12:42 PM

    @Dave Lynch: yeah it’s awful isn’t it. It’s not even considered that extreme anymore, there’s much worse out there’s that readily available on “mainstream” sites.

    I’m glad yous are finding it upsetting too though. Imagine what seeing this kind of images and videos is doing to children’s view of sex.

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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Nov 21st 2019, 1:37 PM

    @Veronica: Please do explain how old Ireland was 100 times more twisted?, all kinds of abuse on tap from all kinds of sickos and nothing ever done…….it was well well worse back then.

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:32 AM

    This is an example of what happens in an immoral society where no one
    knows, and or cares, about the possible serious consequences resulting from their actions.

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:45 AM

    @WreckDefier: immorality has nothing to do with it. Its our hopelessly inept education system.

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    Mute Smidgen Dublin
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:48 AM

    @Mjhint: Parents have ultimate responsibility for social education, initiating and continuing communication on issues like these.

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    Mute Veronica
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:57 AM

    @Smidgen Dublin: very individualist view. Society as a whole has a responsibility. Media is completely doninated by hypersexuality, very little of it healthy. We all play a role in society, and we all play a role in how we want our society to be shaped.

    Out of curiosity, how do you suggest that parents keep their children away from pornography? Ban them from phones? Ban them from internet? Ban them from friends? Ban them from school? Obviously talking to your children is incredibly important, but there’s no way to prevent them from coming across pornography the way things currently are.

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    Mute Arch Angel
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    Nov 21st 2019, 12:46 PM

    @Veronica: I believe you’re right. This is a societal issue, one that we’ll probably only see the full effects of in the decades to come. It effects our youth, both boys and girls, who won’t stay young, and whatever psychological problems it causes them will very often manifest in adulthood. I’ve heard it said that the child can contain and cope with a problem, it’s the adult who can’t cope and often has issues.
    As for dealing with pornography, I agree. It’s impossible to contain it now, even tech savy parents can do their utmost to block every porn site on their home router, only to have their kids access them on their phones or a friends WiFi. Or be even more tech savy themselves and get around any attempts to block access.
    The best defence it talking to them, if I’m honest here I used to run a mile from this but my good wife was brilliant at it, no question was ever too embarrassing. I got better. And I’m glad to say, for me at least it worked. On one occasion one of my sons was at a party, it got rowdy and a young girl was passed out upstairs. One lad decided he was going to take advantage of her, however my son politely told him he didn’t know who she was, but he wasn’t. End of story. The bigger lad insisted and my son beat the bejaysus out of him. I heard about this 18 months later, my son was worried I’d be annoyed about him fighting. I was, he won’t always win, but I was proud that he protected that wee girl too, she was someone’s daughter. We kind of need to instil that.

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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Nov 21st 2019, 1:26 PM

    @WreckDefier: Please do explain how old Ireland was 100 times more twisted?, all kinds of abuse on tap from all kinds of sickos and nothing ever done…….it was well well worse back then.

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    Mute Gillean Guy
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    Nov 21st 2019, 12:09 PM

    It has to do with access & the prolification of Smartphones & handheld devices. 25 years the Internet may be around but for many years, it was accessed on a desktop where children could be monitored more easily and probably were.

    Now, in the last 10 yrs, they’ve been handed portable, handheld devices and off they’re sent to use them privately, from very young ages; with a good percentage of them never having a parent casting an eye over what they’re doing/watching/accessing (a whole other debate)

    If a teen study were done, I believe there’d be a correlation between unfettered Internet access & the rise in teen sexual assaults, of today. It’s certainly showing anecdotally.

    Parental education with increased monitoring & legislation on age verified, porn access needs to be addressed.

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Nov 21st 2019, 10:54 AM

    Dafuq is wrong with people – seriously.

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