EU commissioner in ‘profound apology’ over golf dinner

The EU’s trade commissioner has issued a “fulsome and profound” apology as calls for him to quit after attending a golf dinner during the pandemic intensify.

Irishman Phil Hogan has been urged to consider his position by the leaders of the Republic’s coalition Government, Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar, after the event at a hotel in the west of Ireland with more than 80 people present.

He is a senior Irish politician with significant standing in Brussels who would be deeply involved in any deal with Britain after Brexit.

In a statement he said: “I acknowledge my actions have touched a nerve for the people of Ireland, something for which I am profoundly sorry.

“I realise fully the unnecessary stress, risk and offence caused to the people of Ireland by my attendance at such an event, at such a difficult time for all, and I am extremely sorry for this.”

Police are investigating whether coronavirus regulations were broken in holding the Irish parliament’s golf society event two days after the Government announced it intended to curb the numbers permitted to gather together.

A resurgence in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks has led Ireland to backtrack on some of its plan to reopen society after lockdown.

The function was held across two rooms in the hotel in Clifden.

Other attendees including the then agriculture minister Dara Calleary have resigned.

A Supreme Court judge was among others on the guest list.

Mr Hogan said: “I acknowledge that the issue is far bigger than compliance with rules and regulations and adherence to legalities and procedures.

“All of us must display solidarity as we try to stamp out this common plague.

“I thus offer this fulsome and profound apology, at this difficult time for all people, as the world as a whole combats Covid-19.”

He paid tribute to the “wonderful” healthcare workers who continue to put their lives on the line to combat Covid-19, and to everyone who has lost a loved one during the pandemic.

An Irish Government statement said Mr Martin and his deputy Mr Varadkar “both believe the event should never have been held, that the commissioner’s apology came late and that he still needs to give a full account and explanation of his actions”.

Coronavirus testing
Coronavirus testing

Mr Hogan is the EU’s former agriculture commissioner and oversaw significant reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Trade is a central issue in the EU’s efforts to build agreement with the UK to mitigate any ill-effects from Brexit.

The commissioner is a native of Kilkenny in the south east of the country and a former Irish environment minister for Fine Gael.

It is the EU Commission president who would have to force his resignation.

Alan Kelly, leader of Ireland’s opposition Labour Party, said: “It is incumbent on Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar to now inform the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen that they no longer have confidence in the Irish commissioner Phil Hogan and that she should ask for his resignation pursuant to Article 17 of the Treaty on European Union.”

The article says a member of the commission shall resign if the president makes the request.

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