Michael McGrath set to become European Commissioner

Michael McGrath TD has been nominated by the Government to be Ireland’s next European Commissioner, and is expected to take office in October 2024, subject to ratification by the European Parliament.

After four years serving senior cabinet roles at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Michael McGrath TD’s leadership ambitions of Fianna Fáil appear to be on the backburner amid his appointment as the new commissioner.

The European Commission is the de facto executive of the European Union, with each member state appointing a commissioner who is given a specific role akin to a ministerial or cabinet position at national level.

Although McGrath has been confirmed as the new appointee as a new Commission prepares to take office, his specific role within the new Commission is not yet clear, as appointments are expected to be made in the second week of September.

The Irish Times has reported that the Government is keen for McGrath to secure a financial or economic portfolio, given his experience as Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. However, this is unlikely as the Government nominated McGrath unilaterally without consultation with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen had requested member state governments nominate two candidates – one male and one female – who would then be subject to her selection as the preferred candidate.

The nomination processes of member states’ commissioners vary. In Ireland, there is no formal process outlined for determining a commissioner. Nomination of the State’s commissioner is generally agreed by the Cabinet and is treated in a manner akin to a diplomatic appointment. In some EU member states, the nomination of its commissioner is subject to a parliamentary vote.

To ratify a member state’s nominee for commissioner, European Parliament committees draw up evaluations of the candidate’s expertise and performance, which are sent to the Conference of Committee Chairs. The Conference of Committee Chairs then sends the evaluation letters to the President of the Parliament, and the Conference of Presidents is tasked with undertaking the subsequent hearings.

The full Commission, including the Commission President and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, must then be approved in a single vote of consent by Parliament. After the President and commissioners have been approved by Parliament, they are formally appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin TD had confirmed in early 2024 that the Irish Commissioner to follow Mairead McGuinness would be a Fianna Fáil nominee. Martin moved swiftly following the European elections to promote Jack Chambers TD into McGrath’s position as Minister for Finance, further appointing him as deputy leader of Fianna Fáil in an apparent effort to line up Chambers as his successor as party leader.

McGrath had previously been one of the favourites to succeed Martin as leader of Fianna Fáil, but his move out of national politics means that this is now highly unlikely, especially ahead of an imminent general election in Ireland with the Dáil being dissolved by February 2025.

If the general election leads to a new government, it will have the right to dismiss McGrath and appoint its own commissioner, underlining the extent to which his political future has arguably been gambled with.