More statements but still little clarity over Commissioner Phil Hogan and his trip to Clifden

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan talking to the media after visiting Lough Eglish Food Park in Co, Monaghan, Ireland.

EU Commissioner Phil Hogan has issued nine statements and nine tweets since his attendance at last week's Oireachtas Golf Society dinner was revealed.

In that time, his tone has shifted from dismissive to more contrite.

The first utterance came on from a spokesperson, late on Thursday after the Irish Examiner revealed that over 80 people had attended the event. There was no answer to the question of whether he regretted his attendance.

"I can confirm that the Commissioner did attend the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner last night and he complied fully with all quarantine/restricted movement requirements on his return to Ireland."

That was followed on Friday morning by a pair of tweets in which Mr Hogan said that he had followed the guidance of the Station House Hotel in Clifden and of the organisers of the event.

As the public reaction deepened, questions about Mr Hogan's movements swirled. He was asked by this paper if he had been staying at an address in Kildare before his journey to Galway. The response was that he did not breach the restrictions in Kildare.

Seeking clarity, the spokesperson was asked for a timeline of Mr Hogan's moves. A statement said there was "no question" of him having breached the localised lockdown in Kildare.

"I can confirm that the Commissioner went to Co Kildare on his return to Ireland at the end of July. He left Co Kildare for a medical appointment on August 5 (before the lockdown was introduced at midnight on August 7). Immediately on the conclusion of that medical appointment, he went to Co Kilkenny for a period of convalescence and went from there to Co Galway for the golf event."

Phil Hogan.

Late on Friday, a clarified statement was issued, with Mr Hogan apologising for his attendance at the event, around 10 hours after his initial tweet.

"The Commissioner has apologised for his attendance at the dinner and reiterated that he would not have attended had he thought that the event was not in full compliance with government guidelines.”

On Saturday morning, Mr Hogan returned to Brussels aboard a Ryanair flight which sources say was booked the previous afternoon. 

That evening, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste issued a joint statement, saying they had each spoken to Mr Hogan and asked him to "consider his position", saying that the timing of his apology was an issue.

On Sunday at midday, a new statement was issued, in which Mr Hogan apologised "fully and unreservedly" but sent a message that Mr Hogan's position lay only in the hands of European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyden.

The full text of the statement was tweeted and clarification given in a later statement that Mr Hogan would not be resigning and would be willing to provide a detailed timeline of his movements.

It was then confirmed that Mr Hogan had stopped in Kildare to collect "personal belongings and essential work documents". 

The latest statement would come on Sunday evening as it was confirmed that the Commissioner had been stopped by gardaí on August 17 while travelling to Galway.

Hogan under pressure as timeline of his movements comes under scrutiny

As the controversy around Phil Hogan swirls, the key question for the EU Commissioner to answer is: What exactly were his movements in, around, and out of Ireland in the last month?

Here is the confirmed timeline of Mr Hogan's attendance at the event in Clifden, Co Galway thus far.

July 31: Mr Hogan flies back to Ireland from Belgium and begins his mandatory 14-day isolation at an apartment in the K Club in Kildare.

August 5: Mr Hogan leaves Kildare for a medical appointment in Dublin. He leaves the appointment and returns to his native Kilkenny

August 6: The Taoiseach announces new restrictions in Kildare, Laois and Offaly - they come into effect at midnight that night.

August 12: Mr Hogan travels to Dublin and is seen in Leinster House. He meets Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and goes to the European Commission office in Dublin city. His spokesperson says that this was within the guidelines because it is classed as essential work.

August 17: Mr Hogan returns to Kildare "briefly" to pick up personal effects and "essential work documents" en route to Galway. He is stopped by gardaí for using his phone.

August 19: Mr Hogan joins over 80 people for the 50th anniversary dinner of the Oireachtas Golf Society.

August 20: The Irish Examiner reveals the details of the event and Mr Hogan confirms his attendance.

August 21: Mr Hogan issues an apology.

August 22: The Taoiseach and Tánaiste call on him to consider his position as he returns to Brussels.

August 23 : Mr Hogan issues a more complete apology.

August 24: Commission President Ursula von der Leyden requests more details from Mr Hogan on his movements.