Dublin Central Fine Gael deputy Paschal Donohoe has been formally appointed as the new Minister for State for Europe following the resignation of Lucinda Creighton last week.

 

Donohoe was elected to the Dáil in 2011 having missed out on a seat in both the 2007 general election and the 2009 bye-election. He is currently a member of the Public Accounts Committee and the vice-chair of the European Affairs Committee.

 

Before being elected to the Dáil, Donohoe was a member of the Seanad since 2007. Prior to this he was Dublin City Councillor from 2004 to 2007.

 

The new Minister of State was edcated at St Declan’s CBS in Cabra and holds a first class hounours degree in politics and economics from Trinity College Dublin.

 

Commenting on his appointment, the Taoiseach said:  “I am sure that Paschal Donohoe will be an excellent minister of state and that he will make an important contribution to the continued enhancement of Ireland’s role in the European Union.”