Paschal Donohoe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paschal Donohoe
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Donohoe in 2024
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| Minister for Finance | |
| Assumed office 23 January 2025 |
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| Taoiseach | Micheál Martin |
| Preceded by | Jack Chambers |
| In office 14 June 2017 – 17 December 2022 |
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| Taoiseach |
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| Preceded by | Michael Noonan |
| Succeeded by | Michael McGrath |
| Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform | |
| In office 17 December 2022 – 23 January 2025 |
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| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Michael McGrath |
| Succeeded by | Jack Chambers |
| In office 6 May 2016 – 27 June 2020 |
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| Taoiseach |
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| Preceded by | Brendan Howlin |
| Succeeded by | Michael McGrath |
| President of the Eurogroup | |
| Assumed office 13 July 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Mário Centeno |
| Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport | |
| In office 11 July 2014 – 6 May 2016 |
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| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Preceded by | Leo Varadkar |
| Succeeded by | Shane Ross |
| Minister of State | |
| 2013–2014 | European Affairs |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2011 |
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| Constituency | Dublin Central |
| Senator | |
| In office 13 September 2007 – 25 February 2011 |
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| Constituency | Administrative Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 September 1974 Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse |
Justine Davey
(m. 2001) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Trinity College Dublin |
Paschal Donohoe (born 19 September 1974) is an important Irish Fine Gael politician. He has served as the President of the Eurogroup since July 2020. He is also Ireland's Minister for Finance, a role he took on in January 2025, and held previously from 2017 to 2022. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD), which is a member of the Irish parliament, for the Dublin Central area since 2011. Before his current roles, he was the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform from 2022 to 2025. He also served as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2014 to 2016, and as Minister of State for European Affairs from 2013 to 2014.
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Early Life and Education
Paschal Donohoe was born in Phibsborough, Dublin, in 1974. He grew up in Blanchardstown. His father worked for a shipping company and also rented tents.
He went to St. Declan's CBS in Cabra. Later, he earned a scholarship to Trinity College Dublin. There, he studied Politics and Economics and graduated with top honors in 1996. While at Trinity, he was involved in the University Philosophical Society, a debating group.
After college, he joined Procter & Gamble, a large company, in the United Kingdom. He worked there for six years, becoming a sales and marketing director. In 2003, he came back to Ireland to start his career in politics.
Political Journey
Starting in Local Government
Paschal Donohoe began his political journey in 2004. He was elected to Dublin City Council, representing the Cabra-Glasnevin area. While on the council, he led important committees.
He ran for the Dáil (Irish parliament) in the 2007 general election but was not elected. However, he was elected to Seanad Éireann, which is the upper house of the Irish parliament, in July 2007. There, he became a spokesperson for his party, Fine Gael, on transport and marine issues.
In 2008, he became the chairman of a committee focused on Ireland's future in Europe. He ran in a special election for Dublin Central in 2009 but did not win. Finally, in the 2011 general election, he was successfully elected as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin Central.
Serving in Government Roles
Minister of State for European Affairs (2013–2014)
In July 2013, Paschal Donohoe was appointed as the Minister of State for European Affairs. This role meant he helped manage Ireland's relationships with other European countries.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (2014–2016)
In July 2014, he became a full cabinet minister. He was appointed Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, a position he held until May 2016.
During his time in this role, he oversaw the sale of the government's share in Aer Lingus, a major airline. He also dealt with several strikes by public transport workers, including those from Dublin Bus, Luas, and Irish Rail.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2016–2020)
After the government was formed in May 2016, Paschal Donohoe became the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Before his first budget in October 2016, he took on extra duties when the Minister for Finance was unwell. He warned that big global events, like Brexit, would impact Ireland's finances. On budget day, he announced a spending plan of €58 billion, which was an increase from the year before.
As Minister for Public Expenditure, he handled difficult situations. This included a potential strike by the Garda Síochána, Ireland's police force. He helped find a solution, and the strike did not happen.
He also worked on a new pay agreement for people who work for the government. This agreement helped to remove special emergency laws that were put in place during a financial crisis. These laws had affected the pay and pensions of public workers.
He was also part of the team that negotiated to form the government after the 2016 general election. This led to a government where his party, Fine Gael, worked with independent politicians and had support from the main opposition party, Fianna Fáil.
His time as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform ended in June 2020 when a new government was formed.
Minister for Finance (2017–2022)
When Leo Varadkar became Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister), Paschal Donohoe was appointed Minister for Finance in June 2017. He presented his first budget in this role in October 2017.
Donohoe managed Ireland's money during a time when the country had a budget surplus in 2018. This meant the government collected more money than it spent, which was a big achievement after the financial crisis.
Working with other government ministers, he helped create a large €116 billion, 10-year National Development Plan called Project Ireland 2040. This plan aimed to prepare Ireland for future growth, including more people and jobs. It also focused on increasing government spending on important projects like roads and schools.
In his budgets as Finance Minister, he sometimes increased taxes to allow for more government spending. For example, he increased a tax on commercial property sales. He also changed the VAT rate for hotels and restaurants back to its usual level, after it had been lowered during the financial crisis.
In 2018, Ireland issued its first 'green bond,' which helps fund environmentally friendly projects. This made Ireland one of the first countries to do so. He also published a plan for Ireland's company tax, explaining how Ireland handles taxes for businesses.
He did not support a specific European tax on digital services. Instead, he preferred a global approach to taxing large companies through the work of the OECD. He strongly defended Ireland's 12.5% company tax rate, assuring businesses it would remain stable. He also attended important global economic meetings in Davos.
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When Micheál Martin became Taoiseach, Paschal Donohoe was appointed Minister for Finance for a second time in June 2020.
Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (2022–2025)
In December 2022, when Leo Varadkar became Taoiseach again, Paschal Donohoe was appointed Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Michael McGrath took over as Minister for Finance at that time.
In early 2023, questions were raised about some of his election expenses from previous campaigns. Paschal Donohoe reviewed his records and apologized for not having declared some items correctly. He clarified the situation and continued in his role as minister.
In the 2024 Irish general election, Paschal Donohoe was re-elected as a TD.
Minister for Finance (2025–present)
On January 23, 2025, following the 2024 general election, Paschal Donohoe was again appointed as Ireland's Minister for Finance in the government led by Micheál Martin.
President of the Eurogroup
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On July 9, 2020, Paschal Donohoe was elected as the President of the Eurogroup. This is a very important role where he leads meetings of the finance ministers from countries that use the Euro currency. He took office on July 13, 2020, and is seen as having done a good job by his European colleagues.
His first term as President was set to end in January 2023. However, despite changes in his role within the Irish government, the Irish government decided to nominate him for a second term.
On December 5, 2022, he was re-elected for a second term as President of the Eurogroup, which began in January 2023. In June 2025, he put forward his candidacy for the Eurogroup Presidency again, along with other candidates like Carlos Cuerpo and Rimantas Šadžius.
Personal Life
Paschal Donohoe married Justine Davey in 2001. They have two children, a son and a daughter, and live in Phibsborough.
Other Interests
Paschal Donohoe regularly writes book reviews for The Irish Times and other publications.
See also
In Spanish: Paschal Donohoe para niños
