Simon Coveney the favourite to succeed Phil Hogan as EU trade commissioner

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney: Favourite to replace Phil Hogan as Ireland’s EU Commissioner, should a vacancy arise. Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney is the favourite to replace Phil Hogan as Ireland’s EU Commissioner.

It had been made clear that in the event of Mr Hogan's resignation, or sacking by Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission president, Fine Gael will retain the right to nominate his successor.