Former European commissioner Phil Hogan has sought the Government’s backing to put his name forward for a senior job leading the food security agency of the United Nations (UN).
The Department of Agriculture had canvassed for potential names the Government could consider nominating as a candidate to be the next director general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The UN agency is based in Rome, and the top job commands a salary of about $265,000 a year.
Mr Hogan, a former Fine Gael minister and European commissioner, has indicated his interest in the Government putting his name forward to contest an election for the senior UN role.
The election to fill the position will take place next year, with representatives of the 194 states who are members of FAO each getting one vote.
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The role is currently held by Qu Dongyu, a Chinese politician and administrator, whose four-year term is due to finish in mid-2027.
A race to lock in support and votes to take over as his replacement is expected to begin in the coming months, as various countries’ candidates for the international job emerge.
The UN agency is tasked with leading efforts to tackle world hunger and improve global food security.
Prospective candidates interested in becoming Ireland’s nominee had until last Friday to flag their interest to the Department of Agriculture. Individuals who put their names forward are due to be interviewed by a selection panel next week.
It is understood Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s preference was that any Irish nominee for the position would be selected through a competitive process.
Mr Hogan, who served as European commissioner for agriculture and later EU trade commissioner, said he did not wish to comment when contacted.
He resigned from the senior EU job in the fallout of the “Golfgate” controversy during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He stepped down in August 2020 following backlash for attending a dinner organised by the Oireachtas golf society at a time when Covid restrictions on large gatherings were in place.
During the height of the political storm then-tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Mr Martin asked Mr Hogan to consider his position. He later said the withdrawal of support by the Irish government contributed to his resignation as EU trade commissioner.
Government sources in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil were reluctant to comment on Mr Hogan’s bid for the UN job to avoid any perception of pre-empting the ongoing selection process.
If Mr Hogan is selected as the Government’s candidate for the UN role it is expected Irish diplomatic efforts would initially focus on getting other European countries to back the former commissioner.
A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture said it could not comment on the ongoing selection process.
The former Carlow-Kilkenny TD previously served as minister for the environment in the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government. He was seen as Enda Kenny’s enforcer during Fine Gael’s time in opposition and played a pivotal role helping Mr Kenny fight off a leadership challenge less than a year before he came taoiseach.
Mr Hogan was picked to become Ireland’s European commissioner in 2014, taking on the agriculture portfolio in the EU’s executive body that proposes laws.
He remained in Brussels for a second term and was moved to the high-profile job of trade commissioner, which he held for a little less than a year before he was pushed to resign.
After his departure from politics Mr Hogan set up a political consultancy business, Hogan Strategic Advisory Services. Records show he has advised a roster of private clients that includes United States banking giant JP Morgan, law firm DLA Piper, telecoms firm Vodafone and payments company Visa.
