EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan published on Tuesday 25 August the full details of his recent travels in Ireland and gave his reasons for complying with the health restrictions in force on the island. The objective is to shed light on his participation in the gala dinner of the Irish Parliament Golf Club, which is causing a scandal in the country, and to avoid resigning.
The publication had been requested by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said the institution’s deputy spokesperson, Dana Spinant.
In his statement, the Commissioner once again beats his chest and acknowledges that “it is abundantly clear that the event should not have been held and that I should not have attended this dinner”. He admits that, from a regulatory point of view, it was forbidden to gather more than 50 people in a closed place. The dinner was attended by more than 80 guests (see EUROPE 12544/15).
Nevertheless, Mr Hogan reiterated that he had been assured of full compliance with the new health measures. Therefore, he “had no reason to question or doubt that assurance, particularly in circumstances where an Irish Government Minister was attending and speaking at the event”, he defends.
The Commissioner added that he tested negative for Covid-19 in hospital after his arrival in Ireland. He was therefore no longer subject to a legal quarantine requirement, he said. As for his travel to the site, the Commissioner explains at length that at no time did he breach the restrictions imposed by the Irish Government.
For Mr Hogan’s memorandum: https://bit.ly/3aYOS0C (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)