Phil Hogan

Phil Hogan is a seasoned public servant with over 30 years of experience as a member of the Irish Parliament.

Hogan’s political career began at the age of 22 when he was elected to Kilkenny County Council. He became a Senator in 1987 and was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1989, subsequently serving in various shadow cabinet roles. In 1994, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Finance, and in 2011, he assumed the role of Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. During this period, he also held the presidency of the EU Council of Environment Ministers. As Minister, Hogan spearheaded the most significant reform of local government in the history of the State through the Local Government Reform Act 2014. He introduced landmark policies, including gender quotas for election candidates, the establishment of Irish Water, and domestic water charges. He also published the first draft of Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill.

In 2014, Hogan was appointed European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. Drawing on his academic background in economics, practical experience in farming, and business acumen, he worked to align rural development with the EU’s broader employment and economic growth objectives. Under his leadership, the EU became the world’s leading agri-food exporter, reaching €138 billion in exports in 2018.

Renowned for his negotiation skills and pragmatic approach, Hogan played a central role in strengthening the EU’s global trade relationships. He led successful negotiations for major trade agreements, including with Mercosur and Japan, and initiated a strategic action plan with Africa. In 2019, Phil Hogan was nominated as EU Commissioner for Trade, a position he held until August 2020.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Geography from University College Cork.