Phil Hogan expected to get Europe nod

Brussels is expecting that Ireland will nominate Environment Minister Phil Hogan as its next commissioner and will seek the agriculture portfolio.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is being asked to submit two names, one of them a woman, as the aim is to have an equal number of men and women in the next College of Commissioners.

However, Mr Kenny may be given a pass on this by the new president-designate of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker.