Phil Hogan
Encyclopedia
Phil Hogan is an Irish
Fine Gael
politician. He has been a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Carlow–Kilkenny
constituency since 1989, and is the current Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
in 1960. He was educated locally in St. Joseph's College; Freshford, St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny and University College Cork where he qualified with a Bachelor of Arts
degree and a Higher Diploma in Education
. He is separated with one son, Edward.
from 1982 to 2003. He was Chairman of the council in 1985–1986 and 1989–1990. He was a member of the South-Eastern Health Board from 1991–1999.
He contested the 1987 general election
but was unsuccessful. He was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann
by the Industrial and Commercial Panel, serving between 1987 and 1989. During this time Hogan acted as Fine Gael spokesman on Justice and Industry and Commerce in the upper house of the Oireachtas
. At the 1989 general election
Hogan was elected to Dáil Éireann
for the first time and has retained his seat ever since. He has held a number of Opposition Front Bench
positions including spokesperson on the Food Industry (1989–1991), Consumer Affairs (1991–1993), Regional Affairs and European Development (1993–1994).
Between December 1994 and February 1995 Hogan served as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works
. Hogan was forced to resign when a staff member sent out Budget details to a journalist before it was announced. Following his resignation from this post he became Chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, a position he held until 2001. Hogan then became Director of Organisation of Fine Gael in the run-up to the 2002 general election
. When Michael Noonan
resigned as leader of Fine Gael after the party's disastrous results in that election, Hogan was a candidate in the subsequent leadership election
. He lost out to Enda Kenny
but was appointed spokesperson for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
. Following the 2011 general election, he was appointed Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Hogan also confirmed 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. That would pave the way for domestic water charges based on usage in two years’ time, he said. The new charges will be the first local taxes to be introduced for more than 30 years, since the new Fianna Fáil government led by Jack Lynch
abolished domestic rates in 1977.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician. He has been a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Carlow–Kilkenny
Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency since 1989, and is the current Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Early and private life
Hogan was born in KilkennyKilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
in 1960. He was educated locally in St. Joseph's College; Freshford, St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny and University College Cork where he qualified with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree and a Higher Diploma in Education
Higher diploma
A higher diploma is an academic award in Libya, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and Oman. In Libya the award is equivalent to a bachelor's degree in engineering or technology, in Hong Kong it is below the standard of the bachelor's degree, in Ireland it is above the standard of the bachelor's...
. He is separated with one son, Edward.
Political career
Hogan first became involved in politics at a local level as a member of Kilkenny County CouncilKilkenny County Council
Kilkenny County council is the local authority for County Kilkenny in Ireland. The council is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The county council has 26 elected members...
from 1982 to 2003. He was Chairman of the council in 1985–1986 and 1989–1990. He was a member of the South-Eastern Health Board from 1991–1999.
He contested the 1987 general election
Irish general election, 1987
The Irish general election of 1987 was held on 17 February 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 20 January. The newly-elected 166 members of the 25th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 10 March when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place in...
but was unsuccessful. He was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
by the Industrial and Commercial Panel, serving between 1987 and 1989. During this time Hogan acted as Fine Gael spokesman on Justice and Industry and Commerce in the upper house of the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
. At the 1989 general election
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
Hogan was elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
for the first time and has retained his seat ever since. He has held a number of Opposition Front Bench
Opposition Front Bench (Ireland)
Fine Gael is the largest political party in the Oireachtas. The Fine Gael leader appoints a team of TDs and Senators to speak for the party on different issues. Their areas of responsibility broadly correspond to those of Government ministers. -Fine Gael Front Bench:...
positions including spokesperson on the Food Industry (1989–1991), Consumer Affairs (1991–1993), Regional Affairs and European Development (1993–1994).
Between December 1994 and February 1995 Hogan served as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland...
. Hogan was forced to resign when a staff member sent out Budget details to a journalist before it was announced. Following his resignation from this post he became Chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, a position he held until 2001. Hogan then became Director of Organisation of Fine Gael in the run-up to the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
. When Michael Noonan
Michael Noonan
Michael Noonan is an Irish Fine Gael politician and has been the Minister for Finance since March 2011. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Limerick East and later Limerick City constituencies since 1981....
resigned as leader of Fine Gael after the party's disastrous results in that election, Hogan was a candidate in the subsequent leadership election
Fine Gael leadership election, 2002
The 2002 Fine Gael leadership election began in May 2002, when Michael Noonan resigned as party leader due to the party's poor performance in the 2002 general election. Noonan had only been party leader for little over fifteen months. His successor was elected by the members of the Fine Gael...
. He lost out to Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
but was appointed spokesperson for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is the senior minister at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is Richard Bruton, TD...
. Following the 2011 general election, he was appointed Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Property tax & water rates
In July 2011, Hogan outlined plans for a €100 annual “household charge” would become operable from January 2012 for two years, ahead of the introduction of a full property tax, based on site valuations, in 2014. 250,000 households, some 14 per cent, will be exempt from paying the charge. Hogan accepted the tax would cause hardship to some families, but presented it as the minimum possible charge he could have applied, saying it would cost “a modest €2 per week”.Hogan also confirmed 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. That would pave the way for domestic water charges based on usage in two years’ time, he said. The new charges will be the first local taxes to be introduced for more than 30 years, since the new Fianna Fáil government led by Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
abolished domestic rates in 1977.