20 Facts About Phil Hogan

Phil Hogan was educated locally in St Joseph's College, Freshford, and St Kieran's College, Kilkenny.

Phil Hogan first held political office at the age of 22, when he was elected to Kilkenny County Council.

Phil Hogan retained that seat in the 1985 Local Elections when he topped the poll in his area.

Phil Hogan served in this role on two separate occasions, first between 1985 and 1986 and then between 1989 and 1990.

Phil Hogan worked closely with the Fine Gael leader at the time, John Bruton.

When Fine Gael formed the 'rainbow coalition' government in 1994, Phil Hogan was offered the opportunity to serve as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works.

Phil Hogan served as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works between December 1994 and February 1995.

Phil Hogan was again appointed as Director of Organisation for the 2007 general election.

Phil Hogan was responsible for several pieces of legislation to reform local government and introduce gender quotas so as to increase the representation of women in Irish political life.

Phil Hogan introduced the Local Governments Bill, which aimed to streamline local governance, abolishing 80 town councils with the overall number of councils operating in Ireland going from 114 to 31.

Phil Hogan confirmed that a new State utility company, Irish Water, would be set up in the autumn to oversee the process of installing meters in all domestic dwellings.

On 10 September 2014, Phil Hogan was nominated by Jean-Claude Juncker to be the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development taking office on 1 November.

In 2016, Phil Hogan embarked on a "diplomatic offensive" to build trade relations with non-EU states throughout the world and build new markets for European producers.

In light of the Oireachtas Golf Society scandal, Phil Hogan resigned as EU Trade Commissioner on 26 August 2020.

Phil Hogan is a keen amateur golfer who has been known to compete internationally in competitions in The Netherlands and Ireland.

On 24 August 2011, during an Oireachtas Golf Society outing, ex-Taoiseach John Bruton's former administrator, Anne O'Connell, alleged that Phil Hogan made a lewd comment in her direction.

Phil Hogan immediately complained in writing to the Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

On 19 August 2020, Phil Hogan attended an Oireachtas Golf Society dinner with 80 other attendees, while COVID-19 restrictions on such gatherings were in place.

Phil Hogan resigned from his role as European Commissioner for Trade on 26 August 2020.

On 21 September 2021, it was reported that the European Commission was examining reports that Phil Hogan had taken a job at US lobbyist DLA Piper.