European Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan has said that the hotel which hosted the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner on Wednesday night was assured that arrangements for the event were in compliance with the Government’s COVID-19 guidelines.

The event at the Station House Hotel in Clifden, Co Galway, was held on Wednesday night with over 80 people in attendance, including Commissioner Hogan.

Also present was Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary who has since resigned as Minister on foot of his attendance at the event.

Commenting on his presence at the event, Commissioner Hogan said: “I attended the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner on Wednesday on the clear understanding that the organisers and the hotel concerned had been assured [by the Irish Hotels’ Federation] that the arrangements put in place would be in compliance with the Government’s guidelines.”

Quarantine

Questions had been raised whether the Commissioner complied with quarantine restrictions before attending the event. On Friday, he said he has been in Ireland since late July.

“Prior to the event, I had complied fully with the Government’s quarantine requirements, having been in Ireland since late July,” he said.

New guidelines issued by Government on Tuesday said that no formal or informal events should take place in hotel restaurants.

Good faith

The Commissioner attended the event “in good faith”, deputy chief spokeswoman for the European Commission Dana Spinant told the daily Commission press briefing on Friday in response to questions from Politico.

“He attended this event on the clear understanding that the organisers and the hotel concerned had been assured by the Irish Hotels Federation that the arrangements proposed to be put in place for the event were or would be in compliance with the Government’s guidelines.

“Commissioner Hogan, on a broader note, takes very seriously the COVID-19 rules and regulations and as an illustration of this, upon his return from Brussels to Ireland for the summer holiday, he had self-isolated himself for 14 days in accordance with the local regulations in Ireland and this is an example of how seriously he takes rules and regulations on COVID-19,” she said.

Hindsight

Spinant said she did not have any specific information about how long Commissioner Hogan was at the event.

“With hindsight, had he known that the event would not be in compliance with the rules and guidelines established by the Irish authorities he would not have attended because it’s important for him to act responsibly in matters involving COVID-19,” she said.

Politicians

Aside from Commissioner Hogan and Minister Calleary, a range of other politicians were listed on the seating plan for the event, including former MEP Brian Hayes, senator Jerry Buttimer, who has since resigned as leas cathaoirleach of the Seanad, senator Paul Daly and Independent TD Noel Grealish.

Gardaí have also launched an investigation into the event.

Read more

Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary resigns

Minister Calleary apologises 'unreservedly' for attending event