Calleary misses out on Minister for Finance job

MAYO TD Dara Calleary has missed out on promotion to the position of Minister for Finance with party colleague Jack Chambers to take the prominent role.

The Ballina-based Fianna Fáil TD had been tipped as a potential contender to succeed Minister Michael McGrath following his appointment as EU Commissioner.

However, it was confirmed this afternoon that Dublin-based TD and Minister of State, Jack Chambers (33) will succeed Minister McGrath as the Minister for Finance. Mr Chambers' formal appointment as finance minister will take place tomorrow.

Deputy Calleary has served as Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation since August 2022.

The 51-year-old had previously sat at cabinet during a short-lived spell as Minister for Agriculture, which ended after he resigned in the aftermath of the ‘Golfgate’ controversy.

There was speculation and anticipation among many members of the Fianna Fáil party in Mayo that Calleary will return to the Cabinet table but those hopes were dashed by the announcement that Jack Chambers will move to the Department of Finance.

Chambers has strong Mayo links as both his parents hail from the county. His father, Frank, is from Newport and is a consultant at the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin. His mother, Barbara Farragher, is from Gardenfield, Hollymount, and is from a family with deep roots in Garrymore and Mayo football.

Frank and Barbara resided in Galway for a few years and Jack was born in Galway before the family moved to Dublin when he was two years old.

He is a regular visitor to the county both in a private and official capacity and last September he officially opened the extension of the Great Western Greenway onto Achill Island.

Last week he was appointed as the deputy leader of Fianna Fáil, a position which Deputy Calleary held from 2018 to 2020 until he resigned following the 'Golfgate' controversy.