A Sinn Féin MEP says the controversies surrounding Phil Hogan during his tenure as Irish environment minister is wasting Irish political capital.

Mr Hogan has been awarded the role of EU agricultural commissioner by Commission President elect, Jean-Claude Juncker.

He still has to get the support of the European Parliament to take his position.

Mr Hogan will soon face MEPs in the agricultural committee of the parliament.

But Sinn Fein MEP for Dublin, Lynn Boylan, says the controversies surrounding him make him an unsuitable candidate for Commissioner, as he will draw attention and scrutiny.

And speaking last week, the Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said that by nominating Mr Hogan to the EU Commission, the Taoiseach was "repeating the mistake he made in blindly defending Alan Shatter".