Armed with no less than four binders of information notes, Michael McGrath never found himself in difficulty during a three and a half hour hearing to confirm his appointment as European Commissioner for Justice.

Each of the 26 commissioners appointed to join Ursula von der Leyen around the table at the summit of the European Commission faces confirmation hearings in the European Parliament.

The former Fianna Fáil finance minister had spent weeks studying the justice file, preparing for questioning from MEPs. His portfolio is broad, ranging from judicial cooperation, the European Arrest Warrant and data protection rules, to the rule of law, foreign interference in elections and consumer rights.

The rule of law aspect of this position is particularly politically sensitive, as he will be the man in the Commission who takes on EU countries that undermine civil society, political opposition, to the judiciary or to independent media. This would put him in conflict with the populist government of Viktor Orban in Hungary, and potentially with Prime Minister Robert Fico in Slovakia and with right-wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

McGrath’s response to questions about the rule of law was closely followed, as MPs tried to determine whether he was up to the task.

Since the European elections at the beginning of this year. the balance of power has shifted to the right, with a fifth of MEPs now coming from far-right or populist right parties. It was McGrath’s responses to several tense questions posed by far-right MEPs during the hearing that won him the most praise. He rebuffed criticism of the European Court of Justice and immigrants, drawing applause from the room.

Privately, several MEPs who met with him before the hearing said they initially came away wondering whether he fully understood his mandate. But at the crucial moment, he delivered a strong performance and paid attention to detail. Answering questions from more than 40 MEPs, none put any visible pressure on him.

MEPs then voted behind closed doors to decide whether or not to approve his nomination. The Cork politician received 125 of 149 votes, easily securing the two-thirds majority needed.

In addition to the three centrist political groups that make up the majority in Parliament, McGrath has won support from the left-wing group, the Greens and the far-right European Conservatives and Reformists party.