Today Minister Simon Coveney TD has strongly welcomed the appointment of Phil Hogan as EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development by new Commission president, Jean Claude Juncker.
“ Agriculture has always been a priority for Ireland and this is an appointment that Government has made a priority. It is a very significant announcement for Ireland and is recognition of the role the Irish Presidency played in securing a Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) agreement last year ” .
This is clearly the appointment this Government had sought and been working on for the last number of months and I am delighted that today we have secured the position of EU Agriculture Commissioner. Ireland sees this appointment as securing a major economic portfolio with controls 40% of the EU Budget. This Government has prioritised Agriculture and Food as a major economic driver for the Irish economy and this appointment will help deliver those targets.
I wish Phil Hogan the very best in his new role and look forward to working closely with him.’