#Golfgate latest: Resignations, apologies, regrets and a call for golf society to disband
Micheál Martin's Government has been rocked by the fall-out from an Oireachtas Golf Society event in Galway on Wednesday night, as revealed by the Irish Examiner.
The then Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary was among over 80 people who attended the event, which breached public health guidelines. Current public health guidelines around Covid-19 say that no more than 50 people should gather indoors.
- Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary has resigned;
- Galway West TD Noel Grealish has apologised saying "it was an error of judgement";
- Taoiseach Micheál Martin has removed the party whip from three Fianna Fáil Senators - Paul Daly, Aidan Davitt and Niall Blaney
- Senator Jerry Buttimer has resigned as Leas Cathaoirleach of the Seanad;
- Leo Varadkar has removed the Fine Gael whip from Senators Jerry Buttimer, Paddy Burke and John Cummins;
- Gardaí have confirmed they are investigating the event for alleged breaches of Covid-19 regulations;
- Phil Hogan confirmed he attended and claims he fully complied with guidelines;
- EU Commission confirms President Ursula von der Leyen has been informed of the event;
- Former Attorney General Seamus Woulfe confirmed he attended, believing event complied with guidelines;
- The official invite for the golf event made no mention of the pandemic.
- Ceann Comhairle: Oireachtas Golf Society should disband 'as a matter of urgency'
The Oireachtas Golf Society, which hosted the controversial dinner which led to a Minister resigning and a number of Senators losing their party's whip, has been asked to disband.
The Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, wrote to the Secretary of the Golf Society today saying the group should be wound up "as a matter of urgency".
“While recognising that the Golf Society operates independently of the Oireachtas I write to suggest that, in the aftermath of this week’s events in Clifden, the society as it is currently structured and named be wound up as a matter of urgency," Mr Ó Fearghaíl said.
Former Cavan and Monaghan TD Paudge Connolly broke quarantine rules by attending the controversial Oireachtas Golf Society dinner just days after being in Spain.
The Independent Councillor played golf in Algorfa on August 11 before returning home.
Government guidelines state anyone travelling into Ireland from non-green listed countries should restrict their movements for 14 days.
Councillor Connolly has apologised for attending the dinner.
The official invite for a golf outing which saw 82 people flout Covid guidelines made no mention of the pandemic.
The Oireachtas Golf Society distributed the invite, seen by the Irish Examiner, in the months previous the event which went ahead over Tuesday and until Wednesday night in Clifden in Galway.
Tuesday was listed as “Captain’s prize day” with the Captain listed as Galway TD Noel Grealish.
Wednesday's schedule lists “President’s prize day” with President, former Fianna Fáil TD and Senator Donie Cassidy.
The invite lists a number of prices for accommodation in the Station House Hotel and surrounding hotels as well as asking members for €20 for their membership fee.
Despite the invite spanning two A4 pages, there is no mention of Covid-19 guidelines, restrictions or safety measures throughout the text.
Taoiseach Michael Martin has removed the party whip from three Fianna Fáil Senators - Paul Daly, Aidan Davitt and Niall Blaney who attended the Oireachtas Golf Society event.
Earlier today, the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar removed the Fine Gael whip from Senators Jerry Buttimer, Paddy Burke and John Cummins.
The European Commission has said Commissioner Phil Hogan attended the Oireachtas Golf Society event in good faith.
A spokesperson has echoed the Commissioner's statement that he had received assurances government guidelines would be followed.
Dana Spinant said that by self-isolating on his return to Ireland for the summer, Mr Hogan demonstrated how seriously he takes Covid 19 rules and regulations.
She said: "Upon his return from Brussels to Ireland for the summer holidays, he had self-isolated for 14 days in accordance with the local regulations in Ireland. This is an example of how seriously he takes rules and regulations on Covid-19."
As to this week's event, she said: "Earlier this week, (Commissioner Hogan) attended the event organised by the Irish Parliamentary Golf Society in good faith, 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 would be in compliance with the Government’s guidelines."
In response to a question as to whether Commissioner Hogan had left the event early, or raised any concerns at the circumstances at the event after he arrived, Ms Spinant said she had no information as to how long he had stayed there.
She added:
She added that Commissioners are citizens and "for the President (Ursula von der Leyen) it is important that all the members act responsibly in matters regarding the Covid-19 rules and regulatuons. These are important matters pertaining, not just to the individual health of the Commissioners, but to public health.
"It is necessary and important that Commissioners take all the precautions that are necessary so as to comply with the rules and regulations that are in place around the EU."
EU President Ursula von der Leyen informed
In response to a question as to whether Commissioner Hogan had discussed this week's events with President von der Leyen, Ms Spinant did not specifically confirm that Commissioner Hogan had been in contact with President von der Leyen about the Golf Society event, but added President von der Leyen is in "very frequent contact" with all Commissioners and that she had been informed about the matter.
Ms Spinant concluded: "Commissioner Hogan attended the event in good faith and following assurances that the event would be organised in compliance with the regulations introduced by the Irish authorities. Of course with hindsight he regrets the fact that this seems not to have been the case.
"With hindsight he would not attend an event which is not in line with the obligations introduced at local level.
"It is not for us here in the Commission to comment further and in what respect it was - or wasn't - in compliance with the regulations introduced by the Irish Government."
The Irish Hotels Federation has said that the current public health guidelines for indoor gatherings "are clear" and allow for 50 people with no intermingling.
The statement from the Irish Hotels Federation said: "Further to the Government announcement on Tuesday in relation to Covid-19 restrictions, we sought clarification on a number of issues from the Department of Tourism.
"In line with the protocol agreed with the Department, we advised all members that the status quo remains in terms of current operational procedures for hotels until further notice.
"They permit a maximum of 50 people at any one time including hotel staff and any other event support workers.
"Multiple gatherings are allowed in venue facilities provided they are in separate defined spaces and there are systems to prevent intermingling in common spaces (e.g. entrances, exits and toilet facilities).
"We are expecting that the updated operational guidelines will be published by Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Tourism early next week.
"Compliance with the published operational guidelines is the responsibility of each individual hotel. We encourage all hotels to ensure that they are fully compliant with the operational guidelines."
Fine Gael Senator John Cummins says he should not have gone to the dinner, while Fianna Fáil Senator Paul Daly has apologised for the upset caused.
Supreme Court judge and former Attorney General Seamus Woulfe has confirmed that he attended the event on the understanding that it complied with public health guidelines.
He released a statement saying: "I confirm that I attended one day of the Oireachtas Golf Society outing in Ballyconneally on Wednesday 19th August, as an invited guest.
"I was not aware in advance that there was going to be an organised dinner as part of the event.
"I attended based on that understanding, that it would be within the guidelines, but do apologise for any unintentional breach of any of the new guidelines on my part.
"I would never disregard governmental or health authorities advice regarding public health, and have been at pains to follow rules and guidelines since their introduction in March.
"That I ended up in a situation where breaches may have occurred, is of great regret to me, and for which I am sorry. I unreservedly apologise."
The Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has removed the party whip from Senators Jerry Buttimer, Paddy Burke and John Cummins.
The Fine Gael leader said he made the decision "in recognition of the seriousness of this matter".
He added: "All have apologised profusely and accept they made a serious error of judgment."
The EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan has released a statement saying the organisers of the Oireachtas dinner got reassurances from the Irish Hotels Federation that it would be following government guidelines.
He said "prior to the event" he fully complied with quarantine rules and has been in Ireland since late July.
In a tweet, Mr Hogan did not apologise for attending.
Dara Calleary has told Mid West Radio that the Taoiseach Micheál Martin was angry and disappointed with him.
Mr Calleary said: "I've let him down, I've let my colleagues in Government down, so he's entitled to be angry. He's entitled to be disappointed. They're all entitled to that anger and disappointment."
An Garda Síochána has confirmed it is investigating the event saying in a statement:
"An Garda Síochána is investigating an event that was held in Co. Galway on the 19th August, 2020 into alleged breaches of The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No.3) Regulations 2020, as amended.
As this is an active investigation An Garda Síochána has no further comment."
Senator Jerry Buttimer has resigned as Leas Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, for attending the golf dinner.
Mr Buttimer posted a letter of his resignation on social media this morning.
Noel Grealish has apologised for attending the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner.
The Galway West TD insists he exercised social distancing throughout, and was assured the event met public health guidelines.
He says it was an error of judgement.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin accepts Dara Calleary's resignation saying his attendance at the golf event was wrong.
Mr Martin said: "This morning Deputy Dara Calleary tendered his resignation as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, following his attendance at the Oireachtas golf dinner on Wednesday evening.
"His attendance at this event was wrong and an error of judgement on his part. I have accepted his resignation.
People all over the country have made very difficult, personal sacrifices in their family lives and in their businesses to comply with Covid regulations. This event should not have gone ahead in the manner it did given the Government decision of last Tuesday.
"Dara Calleary, since he was first elected to Dail Eireann has been, and remains, a committed and dedicated public representative.
"This error of judgement was out of character. He has made the right decision for the country, particularly in the light of our continued efforts to supress Covid-19."
: Dara Calleary has given his resignation from Cabinet to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, effective immediately.
The resignation follows the Irish Examiner's revelation that Mr Calleary was among over 80 people who attended an Oireachtas Golf Society event on Wednesday which appeared to breach public health guidelines.
Mr Calleary apologised last night for his attendance at the event, which also included EU Commissioner Phil Hogan, multiple senators and independent TD Noel Grealish.
He said he "should not have attended" the event at a hotel in Galway, which took place just 24 hours after the new Covid-19 measures were introduced.
It is understood that Taoiseach Micheál Martin was "furious" about the event, which came just 24 hours after new Covid-19 guidelines were announced.
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