Nationality Irish Party Fine Gael | Name Paschal Donohoe Role Irish Politician | |
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Born 19 September 1974 (age 50) Dublin, Ireland ( 1974-09-19 ) Profiles | ||
Education Trinity College, Dublin Constituency Administrative Panel | ||
The challenge of Brexit: A conversation with Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe
Paschal Luke Donohoe (born 19 September 1974) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Finance since June 2017 and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform since May 2016. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) since 2011, currently for the Dublin Central constituency. He previously served as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2014 to 2016 and Minister of State for European Affairs from 2013 to 2014.
Contents
- The challenge of Brexit A conversation with Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe
- Paschal donohoe interview irish pictorial weekly
- Early life
- Early political career
- Minister of State for European Affairs
- Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport
- Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
- Personal life
- References
Donohue was born in Phibsborough, and studied Politics and Economics at Trinity College, Dublin. From 1997 he worked with Procter & Gamble in England, before returning to Ireland and taking a position with Diageo. In 2004 Donohoe was elected to Dublin City Council and served on a number of committees before his election to Seanad Éireann in 2007 and his eventual election to Dáil Éireann.
After an initial period on the backbenches, Donohoe was appointed Minister of State for European Affairs following the resignation of Lucinda Creighton in July 2013. A year later he was promoted to cabinet as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, Donohoe was appointed Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Paschal donohoe interview irish pictorial weekly
Early life
Donohue was born in Phibsborough, Dublin, the son of a Stena Line employee who had a sideline in renting marquees and tents. He was educated at St. Declan's CBS in Cabra before receiving a scholarship to Trinity College, Dublin. Here he studied Politics and Economics and graduated with a first-class honours degree.
From Trinity College, Donohue was selected by the multinational company Procter & Gamble for their fast-track graduate training programme. He spent six years working in England and became director of sales and marketing. In 2003 he returned to Ireland where he took a position with Diageo.
Early political career
Donohoe was first elected to Dublin City Council in 2004, for the Cabra-Glasnevin electoral area. During this time he was Chairperson of the Central Area Committee, Chairperson of the Environmental Strategic Policy Committee and a member of the City Corporate Policy Committee.
He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2007 general election in the Dublin Central constituency, but was elected to Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel in July 2007. He was appointed in October 2007 as Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on Transport and the Marine. He was a member of the Joint Oireachtas committee on Transport and the Joint Oireachtas committee on European Affairs. He was appointed Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Ireland's Future in Europe by Enda Kenny in October 2008. On 24 March 2009, he was nominated by Fine Gael to run in the Dublin Central by-election caused by the death of Tony Gregory, but he was unsuccessful in this election. He topped the poll at the 2011 general election and was elected on the 2nd count.
Minister of State for European Affairs
Following the resignation of Lucinda Creighton after voting against the Government on an amendment to the abortion bill, Donohue was promoted to ministerial ranks as Minister of State for European Affairs on 12 July 2013.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport
On 11 July 2014, Donohue was promoted to a full cabinet position as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, a position he held until 6 May 2016. During his tenure Donohoe oversaw the sale of the government's 25% stake in Aer Lingus to the International Airlines Group, however, he was also confronted with a series of strikes by Dublin Bus, Luas and Irish Rail.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Donohue was appointed Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government on 6 May 2016.
In the weeks leading up to his first budget in October 2016, Donohoe took over most of the workload from Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, who had been hospitalised for a period. Hopes of a budget splurge were quashed after Donohoe signalled Brexit and other world events would have “seismic consequences” on Ireland. On budget day he announced €58 billion in various day-to-day and capital expenditure which was an increase in €4 billion from the previous budget.
Personal life
Donohue married English-born Justine Davey in 2001. They have two children, a son and a daughter, and live in Phibsborough.