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The European Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan has resigned from his position tonight from the College of Commissioners.
It means that in a single week Irish farmers have lost the Minister for Agriculture and the influential Commissioner for Trade with Brexit and CAP reform hurtling towards them.
Commissioner Hogan came under pressure to resign from his role in Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission over the last number of days as a result of his presence at a golf dinner on Wednesday of last week and his movements in Ireland since his return from Brussels in July.
The Commissioner said he was “extremely sorry” and apologised for the “stress, risk and offence caused to the people of Ireland” by his attendance at the event.
On Saturday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar asked him to “consider his position” in Brussels.
They said the event should not have been held and that Commissioner Hogan needed to give a “full account” of his attendance.
This Tuesday, the Commissioner sent a dossier of his movements to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen detailing his movements following his return to Ireland from Brussels in late July.
He said that he adhered to the Irish Government’s requirements under COVID-19 in relation to movement restrictions and restrictions on events.
Brexit
The presence of Phil Hogan as the EU’s Trade Commissioner was seen as central to Ireland’s interests, particularly for farming and the agri-food sector, which employs 175,000 people. His resignation means Ireland will lose the trade portfolio.
Any nominee of the Irish Government to replace him must be scrutinised and approved by the European Parliament.
It is not set to re-convene until mid-September, and Europe cannot wait that long for a Commissioner for Trade.
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister Eamon Ryan acknowledged Hogan's resignation.
"While this must have been a difficult decision for him personally, we believe that it is the correct course of action given the circumstances of the past week.
"We all have a responsibility to support and adhere to public health guidelines and regulations.
"We all must persevere in our efforts against COVID-19.
"Former Commissioner Hogan has served Europe and Ireland with distinction. The Government will consider his replacement in due course," they said in a joint statement.
Commission president
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that she respects Hogan's position to resign.
"I am very grateful to him for his tireless work as a Trade Commissioner since the start of this mandate and for his successful term as commissioner in charge of agriculture in the previous college.
"He was a valuable and respected member of the college. I wish him all the best for the future," she said.
Additional reporting by Pat O'Toole.
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