In a secret ballot, 31 MEPs voted in favour of Mr. Hogan taking up the role, with 11 voting against.

The vote followed the Fine Gael representative's strong performance in his confirmation hearing before the Agricultural Committee of the European Parliament.

In his opening address to a full committee room in Brussels this (Thursday) morning, Mr. Hogan pledged to work closely with the Parliament. “I will wish to use your political experience on the CAP,” he said, hoping for early and frequent engagement.

He described his upbringing at the outset. “I grew up on a farm in rural Kilkenny in south-east Ireland.” He described how he served as opposition spokesman on Europe, regional affairs, and on the food industry. “I campaigned in favour of each and every European Treaty,” he explained. He said that as Environment Minister, infringement cases against Ireland from the EU fell from 31 to nine during his time in office.

Hogan said he wants to ensure “a stronger, more competitive agriculture, with stability for farmers". Simplification of the CAP is a priority, but “simplification is not simple”, he said. “I will develop early in my mandate a strategy for simplification,” he stated, to produce a CAP that is expected to be simple effective and flexible.

“Agriculture is a strategic sector in Europe,” Hogan said, employing 25m people, 5% of total employment, occupying 50% of territory. The food industry generates 3.5% of the EU’s GDP, he said. Hogan expressed confidence in the competitiveness and sustainability of European agriculture. “We are uniquely positioned to take advantage of the opportunity created by global population growth."

Questions

The first question was from his Fine Gael colleague MEP Mairead McGuinness. She focused on equity in the food chain. “The share of the total margin ultimately going to the producer is in continuous decline over the last 30 years,” Hogan pointed out, adding the Commission “should be ready to implement legal instruments” if called on to do so by producers. “Voluntary codes are haphazard and dependent on the goodwill of those involved,” he said.

In response to Northern Ireland MEP Diane Dodds, Hogan said he supported the removal of milk quotas, and pointed to market instruments in place.

Criticism

The Parliament got its first taste of “Big Phil” in full flow early enough. Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy focused on Phil Hogan’s suitability for office, citing his fondness for sending legal letters, his role in setting up Irish water, and his quashing of an inquiry into planning.

“I know what parliamentary privilege is, I know what it isn’t, and you should expect politicians to defend themselves,” Hogan replied. He then went on to read out a letter of congratulations on his selection as Agriculture Commissioner from Northern Ireland’s Michelle O’Neill, Carthy’s Sinn Fein colleague. “There seems to be a breakdown in discipline in your party,” Hogan said. "I hope you don’t get into trouble” he said.

Small farmers

Luke “Ming” Flanagan highlighted the needs of small farmers, saying Ireland’s partial convergence means that 80% of direct payments will go to “the richest 20% of farmers”.

“You have a history of helping out your cronies,” alleged Flanagan. Hogan replied that he didn’t subscribe to the notion that all small farmers are excluded, highlighting the increased payments under convergence, voluntary coupled payments for vulnerable sectors like sheep, and agri-environmental schemes.

On supporting food produce in the wake of the Russian trade ban, he said that it would be the 2015 budget that would provided funding to cope with this need, which will be introduced from mid-October.

In response to a question on the Nitrates regulations, Hogan said “a balance needs to be struck, 40% of Europe’s soils are under pressure as is 45% of water. As long as inspection levels are not too high, I think cross compliance is justifiable to ensure water quality."

Northern Ireland MEP Jim Nicholson asked about electronic tagging -EID in sheep. “It’s hugely important that we ensure clean safe traceable food for consumers,” Hogan stressed, recalling identification issues with sheep in the past. However, he acknowledged that sheep tags are an issue, and offered to work with Nicholson to resolve it, while pointing out that DG Sanco have a role in this issue.

Crops

Should member states have the autonomy to grow GM crops, he was asked. “As Environment Minister, I was involved in the GM debate. If member states are against GM’s that should carry equal weight."

He said greening and EFA’s are commitments of the outgoing administration. “The three crop rule is an issue, but it is good farming practice to have crop rotation,” Hogan said.