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Taoiseach welcomes Hogan’s appointment as Trade Commissioner

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has congratulated Phil Hogan on his appointment as EU Trade Commissioner, describing it as a very positive development for Ireland.

Speaking today the Taoiseach said:

Ireland sought a major economic brief in the new European Commission, and I am very satisfied that we have secured it.

Commissioner Hogan will of course work for Europe as a whole, but it is a definite advantage to have an Irish person in charge of this crucial brief over the next five years. He will take the lead on the EU’s post-Brexit trade deal with the UK, as well as Mercosur and the EU’s trading relations with India, the US and China.

Phil did an excellent job in the Agriculture and Rural Development brief. He is widely respected in Brussels and across the EU as a skilled negotiator and someone who builds alliances. He has proven to be vociferous on Brexit, and I am sure that this will continue in his new role.

We look forward to working closely with the new Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, who has already shown a deep understanding of the negative impact Brexit could have on Ireland and across the EU.