{"id":188640,"date":"2025-11-19T08:33:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T08:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/188640\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T08:33:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T08:33:09","slug":"well-wishes-from-all-sides-see-paschal-donohoe-off-from-his-time-in-the-dail-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/188640\/","title":{"rendered":"Well wishes from all sides see Paschal Donohoe off from his time in the D\u00e1il \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paschal Donohoe<\/a> became a government minister at a time of great national upheaval. <\/p>\n

It was 2014. The country was in an awful state. <\/p>\n

Paschal stepped up to the plate.<\/p>\n

Sensing the people\u2019s turmoil, he donned a cowboy hat in a whiffy city-centre laneway off Dame Street and pretended to play the guitar while perched on a large bale of hay draped in the American flag. <\/p>\n

The TD for Dublin Central was settling into his job as minister for tourism and sport when country music superstar Garth Brooks<\/a> cancelled five Dublin<\/a> sell-out concerts, leaving 400,000 ticket holders bereft.<\/p>\n

And Paschal, smiling gallantly through his obvious mortification, threw himself into the launch of a hastily arranged country music festival aimed at softening the blow for disappointed Brooks fans and recouping a few bob for city businesses losing out on trade.<\/p>\n

Looking at him then, grinning like a mad thing for the photographers from that bale of straw in his ten gallon hat, it was obvious that here was a future (thrice-elected) head of the influential Eurogroup of finance ministers and a potential managing director of the World Bank.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s over 11 years now since he launched the Dublin Goes Country campaign. <\/p>\n

Yesterday, it was time to launch Donohoe Goes Global.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s off to Washington DC and the World Bank.<\/p>\n

\"ThenThen minister for tourism Paschal Donohoe and former minister of state Michael Ring embrace the red, white and blue of the US on Dame Lane in 2014. Photograph: Gareth Chaney\/Collins <\/p>\n

It was a surprise and it wasn\u2019t a surprise. <\/p>\n

Surprise in that the announcement came out of the blue. <\/p>\n

Not a surprise because everyone knew for some time that Paschal\u2019s star had risen far beyond the confines of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann<\/a> and Merrion Street.<\/p>\n

It happened, in the way things do around Paschal Donohoe \u2013 without any fuss. <\/p>\n

The word went out on Tuesday morning as the Cabinet was holding its weekly meeting. The minister for finance has resigned from office with immediate effect. Big job with the World Bank. Eh, that\u2019s it. <\/p>\n

There would be a statement from the former minister at lunchtime. <\/p>\n

Again, no fuss. No drama.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Paschal Donohoe accepts World Bank job in worrying setback for GovernmentOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Journalists waiting in the courtyard of Government Buildings for Donohoe\u2019s departure kept their eyes on the main doors. Civil servants and some government ministers watched from their offices above. <\/p>\n

And suddenly Paschal arrived, flanked by Jack Chambers, the Minister for Public Expenditure. <\/p>\n

But they walked in off the street, catching everyone out. The former minister quietly but effectively underlining the absolute end of his domestic political era. <\/p>\n

There would be no questions. <\/p>\n

Jack Chambers didn\u2019t say anything. No other members of Government were present. The big fountain was turned off. There wasn\u2019t a peep from the hacks. <\/p>\n

Everything conveying the message that this was not a drama \u2013 it was just Paschal moving on, thank you very much.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough 10 budgets, I played my role …\u201d said Paschal, launching into his swansong. <\/p>\n

He went through the greatest hits of his decade or so in government. But once he outlined them in detail for posterity he quickly pointed out that his record of achievement was not solely down to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is due to the people of Ireland, to their work, to their resilience. But political decisions also matter, and I was privileged to play a part in making these decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

He had a long, long list of people to thank. <\/p>\n

Some of them, who have worked with him for many years, were struggling with their emotions. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a day of great personal change for them and I can\u2019t thank them enough for what they have done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MinisterMinister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers (left) with Paschal Donohoe outside Government Buildings on Tuesday. Photograph: Damien Eagers\/PA Wire <\/p>\n

We have seen similar situations where personal staff are left upset and angry. On Tuesday, people who worked closely with Paschal looked like they didn\u2019t know whether to laugh or cry. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just so delighted for him. It\u2019s great for him, it really is\u201d smiled one, her eyes brimming.<\/p>\n

Back in Leinster House, news that Paschal was moving was greeted with the same sort of reaction. <\/p>\n

Politicians are people too and, unusually, the outgoing minister for finance was a person liked by most politicians. <\/p>\n

In the speeches following the nomination of Hildegarde Naughton as his Cabinet replacement, Opposition leaders did not stray from the path of attacking the Government but all of them had warm words for the departing Donohoe.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0\u2018He\u2019s probably reached the end of the road\u2019: Donohoe\u2019s constituents on his time in politicsOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

The Taoiseach, T\u00e1naiste and Sean Canney on behalf of the coalition\u2019s independent supporters spoke so glowingly of their departing colleague we expected the ushers to materialise at any moment with sick buckets for the rest of the chamber.<\/p>\n

But with Paschal gone, leaving a big dimple sized hole in the Cabinet, thoughts turned to who would get his job and who else would rise accordingly in the pecking order.<\/p>\n

The day\u2019s schedule was hastily torn-up when the Government lost a minister and the D\u00e1il convened to approve the replacement. <\/p>\n

This meant Leaders\u2019 Questions had to be abandoned, much to the fury of Opposition deputies. But they didn\u2019t kick up a major stink as nobody but Paschal could be blamed for the unexpected derailment of the normal Tuesday routine. <\/p>\n

And nobody would ever do that.<\/p>\n

As soon as the D\u00e1il opened for business it was clear that Minister for State, Hildegarde Naughton was in line for promotion to the senior ranks. <\/p>\n

She arrived sporting a lovely ministerial hair-do and wearing an exquisite outfit in different shades of green. Everything about it screamed \u201cwinner all right!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Looking a little sad and wistful, Paschal voted for one last time as minister<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Helen McEntee was bumped up the ranks from education to foreign affairs. She wore a rich shade of Catherine Connolly purple to signal her elevation. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, observers on dimple-alert picked out Paschal sitting in the back row of the chamber as TDs from all sides of the house beat a path to his pew to offer their congratulations. He then moved to the front bench for the final time. <\/p>\n

The Taoiseach informed the House that the President, \u201cacting on my advice\u201d, accepted the resignation of Deputy Paschal Donohoe as a member of the Government.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a lovely start for the two of them.<\/p>\n

Miche\u00e1l will have been encouraged that Catherine acted without demur and she will have been happy enough to see the back of at least one capitalist minister for finance from the Government she opposed on so many fronts. <\/p>\n

The T\u00e1naiste couldn\u2019t speak highly enough of his old friend before moving on to say why he was the best man to take over his job in finance. <\/p>\n

Then there was a pause to welcome the speaker of the Icelandic parliament, P\u00f3runn Sveinbjarnard\u00f3ttir, and her delegation from the Althing.<\/p>\n

Miche\u00e1l Martin thought this might be the juncture to thank their fellow countryman (and Republic of Ireland football manager) Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost certainly\u201d said the Ceann Comhairle, on the ball. \u201cAs well as Troy Parrott.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then Sean Canney spoke of the wonder that is Paschal, recalling the time that they worked together in 2016 and a nicer, more professional fella you would never find. <\/p>\n

\u201cIreland\u2019s loss is the world\u2019s gain\u201d he quivered. <\/p>\n

Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald led the Oppostion onslaught against Government policy but she was gracious in her tribute to her constituency rival as he leaves public life here. <\/p>\n

Labour\u2019s Ivana Bacik didn\u2019t think the departure of a senior minister so soon into the lifetime of the Government was a good look. <\/p>\n

The \u201ctetchy Taoiseach\u201d is now joined \u201cby a rather twitchy T\u00e1naiste and a fleeing finance Minister\u201d.<\/p>\n

Even Ruth Coppinger had kind words to say to Paschal. \u201cObviously, I wish you and your family well but I am here to be political,\u201d she said, before launching a barrage of criticism. <\/p>\n

Independent Paul Gogarty quoted singer Chappell Roan, as he is wont to do. <\/p>\n

Then he said Paschal had been \u201can outstanding leader in finance\u201d, especially during the tough times.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say he was the veritable S\u00e9amus Coleman of his team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking a little sad and wistful, Paschal voted for one last time as minister. <\/p>\n

He left, fielding the good wishes from all sides. <\/p>\n

Rare for a high achiever in politics at this level, he arrived without a target on his back and left without one too. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Paschal Donohoe became a government minister at a time of great national upheaval. It was 2014. The country…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":165790,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[9,10,4767,52,18,13,14,42827,6,19,17,26736,11,12,15,16,55915,5,4766,46,7,8],"class_list":{"0":"post-188640","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ireland","8":"tag-breaking-news","9":"tag-breakingnews","10":"tag-dail-eireann","11":"tag-dublin","12":"tag-eire","13":"tag-featured-news","14":"tag-featurednews","15":"tag-garth-brooks","16":"tag-headlines","17":"tag-ie","18":"tag-ireland","19":"tag-jack-chambers","20":"tag-latest-news","21":"tag-latestnews","22":"tag-main-news","23":"tag-mainnews","24":"tag-miriam-lord","25":"tag-news","26":"tag-oireachtas","27":"tag-paschal-donohoe","28":"tag-top-stories","29":"tag-topstories"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/115575443260231417","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188640"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188640\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=188640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}