Hogan gets thumbs-up for new EU Commission job
The line-up of the new EU Commission has been formally ratified by the European Parliament, with Ireland's Phil Hogan taking over the agriculture portfolio.
MEPs in Strasbourg voted by 423 votes to 209 to approve the 28 nominated commissioners.
Kilkenny's Phil Hogan, who will formally start his new job on November 1, said food security will be his immediate priority.
"My initial and major responsibility is to ensure that we have sufficient farming practice in place … to feed the populations of Europe and ensure we play our part in the world's global challenges for food security," he said after the vote.
"[The plan is] to do that in a sustainable way, environmentally, and to do it making sure we have a viable agriculture and viable farmers."
