Speculation around Phil Hogan’s position as European Commissioner for Agriculture has kicked off already.

He was the keynote speaker at the JFK Summer School speakers lunch in New Ross last Friday. On the stage, in front of an interesting crowd which included former Taoiseach Brian Cowen and comedian Brendan Grace, to name but a few, Hogan was asked whether he will be re-appointed to the college of commissioners as Ireland’s representative. He refused to be drawn on the subject by his interviewer Dr Bob Mauro from Boston College.

While Hogan has undoubtedly been a success as Commissioner, his re-appointment is at the behest of the Taoiseach of the day. He is not as close to Leo Varadkar as he was to Enda Kenny, who might choose to remove a potential opponent (Simon Coveney) or an underperforming minister (Eoghan Murphy perhaps).

Read more

Latest round of Mercosur talks slammed for lack of credibility