Phil Hogan in 2004 photo op seen reaching for one of 15 ostriches, which he said were representative of the Taoiseach and his cabinet at the time. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

FORMER EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER Phil Hogan has received government backing to enter a contest for a senior job in the United Nations. 

Hogan, who was previously EU Agriculture Commissioner and later Trade Commissioner, applied to be Ireland’s candidate to lead the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) earlier this year. 

It is understood that ministers agreed to back the former commissioner as Ireland’s candidate for the position, which is based out of Rome.

Hogan, needed a government nomination to go forward for the role.

It is understood that following an internal process, which involved an interview, Hogan was shortlisted with another person, but ultimately he was deemed the successful candidate. 

The vote on who will ultimately get the job to lead the UN office won’t be held until next year. 

Hogan resigned from his role as EU Commissioner for Trade in 2020 in the wake of the Golfgate scandal and questions about his movements while in Ireland during the Covid-19 lockdown when restrictions were in place.

At the time, Hogan told RTE News that he “broke no law”.

“I broke no regulations, but I could have adhered better to the guidelines,” he said.

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He acknowledged that he caused upset and anger in Ireland, and said that the issue had become an unacceptable distraction.

Those comments from Hogan followed a joint-statement from the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan who said that “it is clear” that Hogan breached public health guidelines while in Ireland.

Asked if the Taoiseach is happy with the decision, a government spokesperson said Martin wanted the process to be independent, and he is satisfied that it was. 

When asked if what occurred might hinder the relationship between Hogan and Martin, his spokesperson said the issue of Golfgate was dealt with at the time, and people have moved on from it, stating that the relationship would be a “professional” one.