Phil Hogan new EU Agricultural Commissioner

conditioned games

Have to say myself plus the agricultural community in Ireland are happy with that. Never liked him at the start with him been from Kilkenny but over the past few years I think he has been my favourite politician. Also a big thanks to Nessa Childers and Sinn Fein for getting him over the line:o

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0910/642668-eu-commissioner/

Woodville56

With any luck Big Phil won't be allowed to bully his way around Europe the way he did in domestic politics - and his party colleagues now have the cheek to credit his enforcer style introduction of water charges, property tax etc in getting him this junket ! Wouldn't hold out much hope for the environmental lobby in the area of farming , he wasn't interested in environmental issues when in government here and not likely to be disposed that way now either. Big Phil backed the right horse when supporting Kenny for the leadership of Fine Gael and now he's getting his reward - plain as , nothing to do with ability or European outlook ! And the "farming community" are welcoming his appointment ? Would that be the well connected FG supporting rancher farmers down Kilkenny way or the guys with the few hilly acres in the west , I wonder ?

nice_guy80

Watch the flow of money to the big farmers continue
The minority will get looked after

It is the farmers in under developed areas that need the money. they will spend it in the local economies.

conditioned games

His efficiency in getting the water charges and property taxes set up was good. They needed to be introdeced, he was given the projects to take on and he delivered. A big plus on the cv for the european job.

Average farm size in Kilkenny is 44 hectareas catogrised by many small family farms. A far cry from the picture been protrayed of rancher farms. In the farming community there has always been an even split between fine gael and fianna fail including many small beef farmers that traditionally always voted fine gael. Good luck to him anyway, best man for the job.

ionadnapokot

I can hear his knuckles dragging on the Brussels tarmac from here!