Ireland's European commissioner-designate Phil Hogan has won the backing of the European Parliament's agriculture committee to become the next EU agriculture commissioner following a strong performance before the committee in Brussels yesterday.
Mr Hogan is now virtually certain to assume office on November 1st, after the parliament votes on the entire configuration of the new commission on October 22nd.
Just two of the 45 questions directed at Mr Hogan during the three-hour session raised the recent controversies over Irish Water and his legal battle with Irish MEP Nessa Childers.
Mr Hogan deflected a question from Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy over his alleged involvement in a dispute over Traveller accommodation, by quoting a letter from Sinn Féin's Minister for Agriculture in Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill, congratulating Mr Hogan on his appointment. He also accused Sinn Féin of being "against Europe" and defended his decision to take legal action against Ms Childers. "I know what parliamentary privilege is, and I know what it isn't," he said.
The former minister for the environment also defended his decision to send the curricula vitae of three constituents seeking employment to Irish Water, arguing that it was within his remit as an elected public representative.
Speaking after the hearing, Midlands-North West MEP Luke Ming Flanagan, said the nomination would be an “utter disaster for 80 per cent of Irish farmers”, claiming that Mr Hogan “always stands up for the big man. He supports his own and leaves the majority behind.”
Full committee
While a decision on Mr Hogan’s appointment was expected to be made by the co-ordinators of the main political groups represented in the agriculture committee, two political groups – the Eurosceptic EEFD and the left-wing GUE-NGL group – requested that the decision be put to a vote of the full committee yesterday afternoon.
Asked to vote on whether Mr Hogan was qualified to become a member of the College of Commissioners, 32 MEPs voted in favour, 10 against, and one abstained. On the question of Mr Hogan’s qualifications to carry out the duties required of him, 31 voted in favour and 11 against.
A number of commissioners designate have run into difficulty this week at the parliamentary hearings, with some committees requesting nominees to attend a second hearing. Spanish nominee Miguel Arias Cañete, British commissioner designate Jonathan Hill and former French finance minister Pierre Moscovici have failed to win the support of their respective committees so far, with further hearings expected to be held early next week.
Controversies
Mr Hogan chose not to address the recent controversies over Irish Water and his alleged intervention in a dispute over Traveller accommodation in his opening presentation to the committee, instead outlining his priorities for the portfolio.
Mr Hogan told MEPs that he had been raised on a farm, and saw agriculture as a key tool to boost jobs and growth in the European Union.
He also stressed his commitment to Europe, noting that he had campaigned for a Yes vote in the various treaties voted on by the Irish people. "I have long believed in Europe and I have long served the interest of rural and farming communities," he said.
Responding to a question from Fine Gael’s Mairead McGuinness, Mr Hogan said he was willing to consider introducing a legal measure to combat unfair business practices, noting that the current voluntary system lacked an effective enforcement mechanism.
On the abolition of milk quotas in the EU next year, Mr Hogan said he was not prepared to provide “additional soft landing support” to the sector, adding that it would be unfair to change milk quotas at this stage of the process. Mr Hogan also pledged to simplify the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy over the coming years and reduce bureaucracy.
