Phil Hogan seeks government support for key UN role

Former EU Commissioner and former Environment Minister Phil Hogan is reportedly seeking Government backing to lead a senior United Nations agency.

The position of Director-General of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation is due to become vacant later this year.

The former Carlow Kilkenny TD has expressed interest in the role and has made his intentions known to the Department of Agriculture.

It’s understood that discussions on the matter have not yet taken place at Cabinet level.

Mr Hogan would need to be formally nominated by the Irish Government before his candidacy could proceed and such a nomination would also require support from the European Union, which has previously favoured a single, unified candidate.