THE worst kept secret in local politics was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon when Kilkenny TD Phil Hogan landed the plum job of Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
The prized post was bestowed on the Minister in return for his role in returning three Fine Gael TDs from Carlow-Kilkenny as well as for masterminding the strategy of the stunning election success.
Mr Hogan was also key behind the scenes with the Enda Kenny team in last year’s failed coup in which dissident members of the party attempted to persuade the new Taoiseach to step down as leader of the party.
There was to be no further good news for the constituency when the line up of Ministers of State was announced last eventng. There had been some speculation that new FG deputy John Paul Phelan would be included, but those hopes were dashed when the new ministers were unveiled.
However, both the new TD and Labour Deputy Ann Phelan will be heartened by the news that there will be a mid-term reshuffle in 2013 and that many new TDs are to be given their chance to shine at a time when it hoped consistent growth is restored to the national economy.
Minister Hogan has been a TD since 1989. A junior minister at the Department of Finance in 1995, Hogan was the party’s Director of Elections this year and was one of the three FG negotiators in talks on forming a coalition.
He first became involved in politics at a local level as a member of Kilkenny County Council 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 Deputy Hogan served as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works. He 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.
However this latest post is his highest elevation in his political career and this promotion and the success of winning three FG seats in Carlow-Kilkenny will be celebrated tonight (Friday ) at an event at The Hub in Cillin Hill.
The party kicks off at 8pm, with all Fine Gael party members and those who canvassed for the party invited to attend. All three successful election candidates from the constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny – Phil Hogan, John Paul Phelan, and Pat Deering – will be present to celebrate and to thank their supporters for all the hard work in recent weeks.
With a full buffet, and music from the Marble City Sounds, it looks set to be a great night for the victorious three and their guests.
