EU Commissioner Phil Hogan dramatically resigned on Wednesday night, following an explosive week-long controversy over the Oireachtas Golf Society event in Clifden, Co. Galway.
Earlier this week, it emerged that Commissioner Hogan had a made a ‘social visit’ to County Roscommon (on August 19th) during his recent visit to Ireland. Mr. Hogan was one of 81 people who attended a function in the Station House Hotel in Clifden on Wednesday, 19th of August last.
Details of the elite gathering prompted massive public anger, amidst claims that public health guidelines had been breached. Minister for Agriculture Dara Colleary (who attended) resigned from the Cabinet last week, but Mr. Hogan held out until last night, even after the Irish Government indicated it no longer had confidence in him.
On Wednesday night, Mr. Hogan finally tendered his resignation as EU Trade Commissioner to the President of the European Commission, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen.
He said it was becoming increasingly clear that the controversy concerning his recent visit to Ireland was becoming a distraction from his work as an EU Commissioner and would undermine his work in the “key months” ahead.
He added: “I deeply regret that my trip to Ireland…caused such concern, unease and upset. I have always tried to comply with all relevant Covid-19 regulations in Ireland and had understood that I had met with all relevant public health guidelines, particularly following confirmation of a negative Covid-19 test. I reiterate my heartfelt apology to the Irish people for the mistakes I made during my visit”.
Mr. Hogan insisted that he did not break any law but added that, as a public representative, he should have been more rigorous in his adherence to the Covid guidelines.
