increase font size
Phil Hogan.
A passion for golf has led to the downfall of one of the European Union’s most powerful figures and the man who is heading the FTA trade negotiations with NZ.
The well-known former Irish politician and now EU Trade Commissioner, Phil Hogan has been forced to resign for breaching strict coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Ireland.
Hogan flew home to Dublin from Brussels and after testing negative for COVID-19, later headed across the country to the town of Clifden in Co Galway. Here he attend a special dinner for a select group of fellow golf-mad politicians and other senior government figures including a high court judge.
The trouble was that Hogan, a very keen and good golfer, didn’t self-isolate for 14 days after the test as required by Irish health authorities. There were also accusations that strict social distancing rules were not adhered to at the function as well and that it never should have taken place anyway.
Hogan and other politicians who attended the golf gathering have been widely condemned for their actions which coincided with Ireland enacting strict new lock down rules. Hogan was also stopped by police near Dublin for using his cell phone while driving.
But Hogan wasn’t the only politician to lose his job as a result of the function. The Irish Minister of Agriculture, Dara Calleary was also sacked by the Irish Prime Minister for attending the dinner. Calleary had only been in the job a matter of a few months. Others who attended the function may also soon find themselves out of a job as the fallout from a golf reunion continues.
The Irish Minister of State for Rural Communities says his country and New Zealand face very similar challenges on a range of issues related to agriculture, including climate change, biodiversity and rural depopulation.
OPINION: New Zealand's dairy exports have been the backbone of the country's economy for several decades, and exports remain buoyant despite pandemic-era disruptions and impending downturns in East Asia in the next few years.
Talk the language of business when communicating the benefits of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - that's the message to the Government and its officials from public and international trade law expert Sarah Salmond.
In the rural landscapes of New Zealand and Ireland, a shared agricultural heritage thrives, built on a strong mixture of tradition and innovation, with mirror image climates earning both countries global acclaim for their food quality and sustainable agriculture.
OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.
Tractor manufacturer and distributor Case IH has announced a new partnership with Meet the Need, the grassroots, farmer-led charity working to tackle food insecurity across New Zealand one meal at a time.
The DairyNZ Farmers Forum is back with three events - in Waikato, Canterbury and Southland.
To celebrate 25 years of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Ravensdown caught up with past recipients to see where their careers have taken them, and what the future holds for the industry.
Among this year’s Primary Industry NZ (PINZ) Awards finalists are a Southlander who created edible bale netting and rural New Zealanders who advocate for pragmatic regulation and support stressed out farmers.
Rockit Global has appointed Ivan Angland as its new chief operating officer as it continues its growth strategy into 2025.
Nominations are now open for the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board.
OPINION: The good fight against "banking wokery" continues with a draft bill to scrap the red tape forcing banks and…
OPINION: Despite the volatility created by the shoot-from-the-hip trade tariff 'stratefy' being deployed by the new state tenants in the…
