#Golfgate: Phil Hogan offers 'profound apology' for 'stress and offence'; Dáil to return early

Commissioner Hogan said in a statement: "I wish to apologise fully and unreservedly for attending the Oireachtas golf society dinner on Wednesday night last. I want, in particular, to apologise to the wonderful healthcare workers, who continue to put their lives on the line to combat Covid-19 and all people who have lost loved ones during this pandemic. 

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.

"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.

"I spoke to both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste yesterday and I have listened carefully to their views, which I respect. I have been reporting to the President of the European Commission on all these matters in recent days."

Dáil must return on Tuesday to hear Taoiseach's view on Phil Hogan after #golfgate, say Labour

The Labour Party has insisted that the Government reconvene the Dáil on Tuesday rather than after the schools reopen at the end of the month.

Party leader Alan Kelly said the announcement "in the middle of the night" by the three leaders in government to recall the Dáil "sums up the chaos at the heart of this government. 

He also said that the position of EU commissioner Phil Hogan is "not tenable".

He said: "A delayed return of the Dáil is not acceptable, and it should come back this Tuesday, 25th August.

“I wrote to the Taoiseach on Saturday to tell him our country is living through an unprecedented national crisis and people are furious. They must see that their public representatives are at work on their behalf.

That is why I want the Dáil to return this Tuesday rather than wait any longer. We have too much to discuss. 

"There is a serious crisis of confidence in the institutions of the State and the Government’s ability to handle this pandemic after so many high-profile public figures acted with impunity.

“It makes no sense that the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister Ryan are prepared to wait over a week in the hope this storm will pass."

He added that the Government must appoint a new Minister for Agriculture as soon as possible to replace Dara Calleary who was sacked for attending Wednesday's Oireachtas Golf society dinner.

He also pointed out that the reopening of schools and the process around Leaving Certificate results had to be sorted.

The Dáil should return next week, on Tuesday 25th August, not after the schools.

There are too many serious issues to be discussed, and we must restore the confidence of the public.

This is the letter I wrote to the Taoiseach today asking him to bring us back.#recallthedail pic.twitter.com/gKVmzjrYEo

— Alan Kelly TD (@alankellylabour) August 22, 2020

Mr Kelly said: “The flagrant breach of public health rules at the golf dinner was wrong and has caused huge public anger. It has also added to the contradictory messaging about the new Covid-19 restrictions announced this week.

“The leaders in Government must act decisively now, rather than procrastinate. We need a new Minister for Agriculture and the Marine because of outbreaks in meat factories, and there are many issues to be addressed around the reopening of our schools and the process for awarding Leaving Certificate results.

“I also told the Taoiseach that the position of the Commissioner is not tenable. The Taoiseach needs to state whether he has confidence in Commissioner Hogan to continue in his position, and why there should be any different treatment for a Government Minister or an EU commissioner who engaged in the same activity.

“It is incumbent on Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste 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.

“Artilce 17.6 (c) says ‘A member of the Commission shall resign if the President so requests.’.”

Taoiseach set to recall Dáil as #golfgate fury lingers

Micheál Martin is to ask the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, on Monday to recall the Dáil.

Yesterday evening the Taoiseach along with the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, and Minister for Transport and Climate Action Eamon Ryan agreed that the Dáil should resume following the reopening of schools.

This follows mounting public fury as the fallout from Wednesday's Oireachtas Golf society dinner continues with a number of resignations including newly appointed Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary.

Labour leader Alan Kelly insisted last night that the Dáil be recalled this week instead.

Writing on Twitter he said: "The Dáil should return next week, on Tuesday 25th August, not after the schools.

"There are too many serious issues to be discussed, and we must restore the confidence of the public."

Public outrage has intensified since the Irish Examiner revealed more than 80 people attended an Oireachtas golf dinner in Galway, the day after new measures were put in place by the government restricting such gatherings to just six people.

The EU Commissioner Phil Hogan has also come under sustained criticism for his presence at the society dinner with both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste urging him to consider his position last night.

Previous to this the Taoiseach had asked for  "far more fulsome response" from Mr Hogan to the ongoing furore caused by his attendance.

Mr Hogan had initially declined to apologise for his presence at the dinner, saying only that he had been assured the event was within Covid-19 guidelines.

He later apologised for "the distress" his attendance had caused.

The Labour Party has described his position as untenable while MEP Luke Flanagan called on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to remove the Trade Commissioner from his position.

Opposition demands that the Dáil should return to bring clarity to the Covid-19 situation have been growing since Thursday evening's revelations.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach to recall the Dáil in a private meeting however he refused to do so.

Sinn Féin's housing spokesman, Eoin O'Brien had also called for all politicians in attendance at the event to resign.

The Co-Leader of the Social Democrats Catherine Murphy said that public anger would continue to grow worse until the Dáil was recalled and that public confidence needed to be restored.

Former Attorney General and now Supreme Court Judge Seamus Woulfe has also come under mounting criticism for his presence at the dinner.

Mr Woulfe apologised for his attendance at the dinner and claimed he was assured that the event was in according with public health guidelines.

Opposition TDs, including People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett have pointed out that Mr Woulfe had signed off on emergency Covid-19 restrictions in his previous position of Attorney General and should have been aware of the guidelines for compliance.