Hogan to get nod for EU agriculture post

Former Environment Minister Phil Hogan is expected to be nominated as EU Agriculture Commissioner tomorrow.

However, he will need to convince members of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee he is fit for the job when he appears before them, with Sinn Féin in particular opposed to his nomination.

New Commission president, Jean Claude Juncker, has delayed announcing his new team until tomorrow, but unless there is a major change in his list, Ireland appeared to be assured of the agriculture portfolio.

Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy, who is on the agriculture committee, said he would like to see an Irish person get the job, such as Fine Gael’s MEP Mairead McGuinness.

“Mr Kenny is using up whatever political capital we have to secure a job for Phil Hogan, rather than using it to get back some of the money we put into the banks, or help with job creation or rural development,” he said. “I would like to see an Irish person get agriculture that would fight for rural development and strong support for farm families. But Mr Hogan has not been a friend of rural Ireland as Environment Minister and I call on the Taoiseach to put forward someone that we could all support”.

Mairead McGuinness, who is also on the agriculture committee, said all candidates will face a gruelling from MEPs. “Mr Hogan will not face anything different, but some Irish MEPs have already made up their minds before hearing his responses to questions, which is disappointing”.