EU trade chief Phil Hogan on defensive in ‘Golfgate’ scandal
- The Irish government said there were clear breaches of Covid-19 public health guidelines during Phil Hogan’s recent trip to his native Ireland
- Hogan attended a golf dinner that outraged the Irish public and led to the resignation of an Irish minister
Embattled EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan was fighting to keep his title, as the Irish government said he breached a trio of coronavirus guidelines on a trip to the Republic to attend a parliamentary golf society dinner.
In a statement Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin and his coalition government partners said “concerns remain” around Hogan’s recent tour of the Republic – despite the trade chief issuing an apology.
According to the statement, Hogan failed to observe a two-week quarantine after arriving in Ireland and failed to limit his travel in a county observing a localised lockdown.
He also “should not have attended the Oireachtas (parliament) Golf Society dinner”, the statement said.
Hogan was among the more than 80 diners – including a cabinet minister, a supreme court judge and swathes of lawmakers – at the August 19 event, one day after the government announced fresh restrictions on such events.
“It is clear that breaches of public health guidelines were made by Commissioner Phil Hogan since he travelled to Ireland,” read the statement.