Michael McGrath has 'no regrets' about taking up European Commissioner role in Brussels 

The former Fianna Fáil minister said he has gained experience in Europe that he could not have gained in Ireland

When asked if he ever thinks he could be Taoiseach now, given the unhappiness amongst some quarters of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, Michael McGrath said that he has “no regrets” about the move to Brussels.

Former Fianna Fáil minister Michael McGrath has said he has “no regrets” about taking up the role of Ireland’s European Commissioner as questions about Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s leadership of his party continue.

Asked if he ever looks back and wonders if he could be Taoiseach now if he had not moved to Europe, Mr McGrath said he is “delighted where I am”.

Mr McGrath, former Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central, served as public expenditure minister and finance minister in the last government.

He resigned in June 2024 after being proposed as Ireland’s European Commissioner.

He was announced as EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection in September 2024, and formally assumed the role that December.

Mr McGrath said he has gained experience in Europe that he could not have gained in Ireland.

Before his departure, Mr McGrath was seen in some quarters as the next leader of Fianna Fáil.

When asked if he ever thinks he could be Taoiseach now, given the unhappiness amongst some quarters of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, Mr McGrath said that he has “no regrets” about the move to Brussels.

“I’m delighted where I am. I’m really enjoying the job as an EU Commissioner,” Mr McGrath said.

“It’s an extraordinary privilege to have the opportunity to influence policy and laws for 450m people.

“I have great respect for anyone who enters public life. I know that serving in government is both a great privilege, but it is also exceptionally hard work.

“I really enjoyed my 25 years at a local and a national level in Irish politics, and now I am in a new chapter in the European Commission.”

Mr McGrath’s current term as commissioner is due to expire in 2029, with the nomination of a new commissioner expected to be one of the last decisions of this Government ahead of a general election.

The current officeholder, aged 49, said he will be “relatively young and, touch wood, in good health” when his term finishes, adding that “none of us knows what the future holds”.

“But I am delighted to be where I am, and it has given me a breadth of experience that I simply couldn’t have got without taking up this role, and a much broader perspective, and knowledge, and experience of European and international politics. No regrets, absolutely.”

'Subscription traps'

Mr McGrath, as part of the Digital Services Act, also said he is attempting to crack down on “subscription traps”.

This is when people end up signed up to a service following a free trial.

“I think all of us have experienced that as consumers, and the principle should be that it should be as easy to exit as it is to sign up in the first place”, he said.

“It is one of a number of measures that I think will be of interest to consumers and that they can relate with and will be of benefit in their day-to-day lives.”

• Louise Burne is Political Correspondent.