Donohoe successfully billed himself as a builder of bridges to win his new EU role

Paschal Donohoe. Picture: Collins

John Downing

Paschal Donohoe's winning of the prestige job chairing Eurogroup finance ministers from the states that use the single currency was a victory for smaller EU countries over big.

The favourite for the post was Spanish Finance Minister Nadia Calvino, who had the backing of France and Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel had said she would like to see the post go to a woman for the first time.