As exclusively revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal, Phil Hogan has been appointed the new EU Agriculture Commissioner. After months of speculation, the 54 year-old Kilkenny native was oficially announced as the new Commissioner by EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker at a press conference in Brussels this morning. Hogan replaces Dacian Ciolos who is returning to his native Romania.

Hogan becomes the second Irishman to take the pivotal Agricultural Commissionership (Ray McSharry being the first between 1989 and 1993) if his nomination is approved by the European Parliament. He will be grilled by MEPs to that end, with the Agriculture Committee members likely to most closely scrutinise him.

The Agriculture Commissionership is prestigious, accounting for almost 40% of the total EU budget, and being the most centrally administered area of activity in European Affairs. While Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform has been agreed for the remainder of the decade, and has now moved to the implementation phase, many issues remain. These include market volatility, external trade talks, sustainable food production, equity for producers in the food chain, and the utilisation of technology, particularly genetically modified crops. Coping with the fall-out of the trade sanctions against Russia is likely to be the first item on his agenda.

Sinn Fein's 4 MEPs and Independent MEP Luke "Ming" Flanagan have pledged to oppose Hogan's nomination citing domestic policy issues and some political controversies. The Parliament is still likely to support him, with the European Peoples' Party (EPP), which Hogan and Fine Gael are members of, holding 221 of the 751 seats in parliament. If Hogan can also secure the support of the socialist group (191 seats) his ratification is certain.

Hogan has been a TD since 1989, and is seen as the "enforcer" within Fine Gael, Enda Kenny's right hand man. At 54, he now leaves Irish politics, where he has been a divisive figure, having introduced many of the toughest measures in the lifetime of the current Government, including water charges, and the property registration fee and tax. He abolished town councils as part of sweeping electoral reforms.

Hogan's appointment has been welcomed by Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney as well as all the main farming organisations.

Ireland's previous European Commissioner portfolios

Phil Hogan's letter of appointment from President elect Jean Claude Juncker