Paschal Donohoe

Donohoe also negotiated a new national pay agreement for public servants, known as the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020. This outlined a roadmap for the full and complete unwinding of the emergency legislation introduced during the financial crisis (FEMPI - Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) as it affects, among other things, the remuneration of public servants and the pensions in payment of retired public servants.

Donohoe presided over the public finance during a time when a budget surplus was recorded (in 2018) for the first time since the financial crisis (2006), marking a significant achievement for the Government.

In both of his budgets as Minister for Finance, Donohoe made decisions to increase taxes in order to allow for increased spending. In Budget 2018, this was done by way of a tripling of the stamp duty rate on the sale of commercial property. The following year he reverted to the standard rate of VAT for the hospitality and services sector (going from 9% back up to 13.5%); a measure which had been introduced during the financial crisis in a bid to aid those sectors.

In 2018, Donohoe and Deputy D'Arcy welcomed Ireland's issuing of its first green bond, making Ireland one of the first countries in the world to do so.

Following the appointment of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach, Donohoe was appointed as Minister for Finance, he took office on 14 June 2017. On 10 October 2017, Donohoe presented his first budget as Minister for Finance.

Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, Donohoe was appointed Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In June 2017, after Leo Varadkar succeeded Enda Kenny as Taoiseach, Varadkar appointed Donohoe as Minister for Finance.

Donohoe was appointed Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in 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.

Donohoe also formed part of the Government's negotiating team following the General Election of 2016. This resulted in the formation of a minority Government with Independents, which is underpinned by a Confidence and Supply Agreement the main Opposition Party (Fianna Fáil).

On 11 July 2014, Donohoe was promoted to the cabinet, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, a position he held until 6 May 2016.

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 resignation of Lucinda Creighton, after voting against the Government on an amendment to the abortion bill, Donohoe was appointed as Minister of State for European Affairs on 12 July 2013.

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.

He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2007 general election in the Dublin Central constituency, but was elected to Seanad Éireann for 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.

Donohoe was first elected to Dublin City Council in 2004, for the Cabra-Glasnevin local 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.

From Trinity College, Donohoe was selected by the multinational company Procter & Gamble, for their fast-track graduate training programme. He spent six years working in the UK and became director of sales and marketing. In 2003, he returned to Ireland to pursue a career in politics.

Donohoe married British-born Justine Davey in 2001. They have two children, a son and a daughter, and live in Phibsborough.

Donohoe is originally from Blanchardstown. He studied Politics and Economics at Trinity College Dublin. From 1997, he worked with Procter & Gamble in the UK, before returning to Ireland and taking up a position with them. 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 in 2011.

Paschal 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) for the Dublin Central constituency since 2011. 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.

Donohoe was born in Phibsborough, Dublin, the son of a Stena Line employee who also worked 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. Extracurricular activities included the University Philosophical Society, where he was the Secretary of the 309th Session.