Mcguinness ays hogan appointment a real coup

The successful nomination of former Fine Gael minister Phil Hogan as EU agriculture and rural affairs commissioner designate has been warmly welcomed by Meath-based Mairead McGuinness, MEP and Vice President of the European Parliament who described it as “a real coup.”

“This is a really positive development for Ireland,” she said.  “The agriculture policy of the EU accounts for almost 40pc of the entire EU budget.  It is a crucial policy area and the Commission, with the Parliament and Council, will shape the future of European food, agriculture and rural development.

“In Phil Hogan we have someone who understands those issues innately and has the conviction and strength of character to fight for and promote those interests within Europe,” she said.

Mr Hogan stated: 'I am delighted to have been asked by European Commission President-elect Jean Claude Juncker to take responsibility for the agriculture and rural development portfolio in the next Commission, subject to a successful outcome to the Hearings in the European Parliament. Agriculture is of major strategic importance in Europe and has, since the foundation of the EU, been a top-level policy priority with more than a third of the EU budget, or close to 60bn€, supporting the sector each year. Agriculture and the agri-foods industry account for 6% of the EU's GDP, comprise 15 million businesses and provide 46 million jobs.

He continued: 'Farming faces many challenges, not least in terms of ensuring food security, preserving the environment and protecting the countryside, but also dealing with issues such as climate change and the need to provide a fair and stable standard of living for farmers. We need to preserve the continuity and further development of the farming sector and rural areas.

'This major portfolio has been secured in no small measure thanks to the political standing of An Taoiseach Enda Kenny with President-elect Juncker. An Taoiseach has prioritised Agriculture and Rural Development from the outset and he has assisted enormously in securing this portfolio. I am now looking forward to my hearing before the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee of the European Parliament.'

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney TD has strongly welcomed the appointment, as have the farming and co-operative organisations in Ireland.

However, Sinn Fein MEP, Matt Carthy, has said that while he welcomes the designation of the Agriculture and Rural Development portfolio for Ireland it remains that Phil Hogan is the wrong person for the job. Carthy, who is a member of the European Parliament's Agriculture & Rural Development committee, also stated that it would be a mistake on the part of the Irish Government to continue to pursue Mr Hogan's nomination.

Matt Carthy said: “The decisions made at the EU commission will have a significant impact on our people, our enterprises and our economy. Ireland has the potential to secure many benefits from having a suitable and effective Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development. However, Phil Hogan is clearly the wrong man for the job.

“Phil Hogan has no previous background in Agriculture. His decisions taken as a government Minister for Environment shows that he has no understanding of the struggles of small farming families in Ireland.

“It was only last week that Phil Hogan was implicated in yet another scandal over the setting up Irish Water and overseeing the misspending of tens of millions of euros worth of taxpayers money. The rewarding of incompetency by the Irish Government will do nothing to strengthen Ireland's reputation in Europe,' he said.