Jack Chambers becomes Ireland’s new finance minister

Jack Chambers has become Ireland’s new finance minister.

The 33-year-old Dublin politician takes over from his party colleague Michael McGrath, who has been named as Ireland’s EU Commissioner nominee.

Mr McGrath’s replacement was chosen by the Fianna Fail party under the agreement between the three parties forming Ireland’s coalition government.

Speaking in the Dail chamber ahead of a parliamentary vote on Mr Chambers’ appointment, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party would be voting against because it believed the country “is ready for something new, not simply a reshuffle of personnel”.

Mr Chambers’ appointment was approved by 86 votes for to 60 votes against.

He officially became minister for finance when he received his seal of office from the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins later on Wednesday.

He is Ireland’s youngest finance minister since revolutionary Michael Collins held the role during Ireland’s War of Independence.

After receiving his seal of office, Mr Chambers said he was “honoured” to be appointed.

“My focus will be to make responsible decisions to protect Ireland’s future and drive economic & social progress for people, communities & our enterprise economy,” he posted on X.

Mr Chambers, who was first elected to the Dail in 2016, studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and holds a degree in law and political science from Trinity College.

He has served as a junior minister across five departments and spent two years as Government chief whip.

He was also Fianna Fail’s director of local elections, and was praised by party leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin for his “tremendous” performance which he said had “yielded results”.

Mr Chambers was appointed deputy leader of Fianna Fail last Wednesday.

The elevation from junior minister to finance minister, just three months out from Budget Day, marks a meteoric rise for the Dublin West TD.

He follows in the footsteps of a former Fianna Fail TD for Dublin West, the late Brian Lenihan Jnr, who served as minister for finance during the depths of Ireland’s recession.

Speaking in the Dail, Mr Martin described Mr Chambers as an “excellent colleague” who is a “constructive and focused contributor” in debates.

“He has distinguished himself as a committed and tireless servant of the Irish people as government chief whip during the Covid pandemic,” the Fianna Fail leader said.

“While he will indeed be the youngest person nominated to serve as Minister for Finance since Eamon de Valera nominated Michael Collins to the post in April 1919, his experience is already well beyond that of many who have held the post in the past.”

Mr Martin also paid tribute to Mr McGrath, who he said had, along with Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, “helped ensure that Ireland limited the economic damage of the pandemic and recovered fast and more comprehensively than most countries”.