Cabinet reshuffles ‘never without risk’, says McGrath amid tension over finance role

Government reshuffles are “never without risk” but Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath believes the upcoming rotation of jobs in the Coalition will be handled “professionally and amicably”.

There have been tensions between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael over the plan for the parties to swap the two finance portfolios at the same time as Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar are due to switch roles in December under the Coalition deal.

Mr Varadkar has suggested it may be possible for Paschal Donohoe to remain on as president of the powerful Eurogroup in the hope that he would get a second term as its president even if he is no longer Minister for Finance. In recent weeks the Fine Gael leader has spoken of the significance of the role, chairing the group of euro zone countries and what it means to the Republic.

Earlier this month Mr McGrath poured cold water on the idea of Mr Donohoe staying on as the State’s Eurogroup representative if the Fine Gael politician becomes Minister for Public Expenditure.

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Cabinet moves

He suggested it would diminish the role of Minister for Finance.

In a post-Budget 2023 press conference, Mr McGrath was asked if it has been confirmed that he will get the finance job in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.

He replied: “You’ll have to ask the Taoiseach about that one. There’s plenty of time between budget day today and the 15th of December for all those issues to be discussed between the party leaders and I think it was important that we focused on the budget.”

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He said the budget now has to be rolled out and implemented.

The Fianna Fáil TD also said: “The change of Taoiseach and the change of other portfolios in a Coalition Government is a very significant event. Of course, it’s never without risk when something like that has to be done. It will be the first time in our country’s history that the Government has rotated at that level.

“But I have no doubt based on all of the discussions that I have been involved in with the party leaders in recent days and indeed with Minister Donohoe the relationships are good. There is trust there. There is mutual respect.”

He said issues were ironed out during budget talks and “we found a way forward. We keep talking until we find the solution and we did on every issue in the budget and I have no doubt the rotation and all that goes with that will be managed professionally and amicably”.