Ireland chaos: martin and varadkar urge eu commissioner hogan to quit

MICHEAL MARTIN CALLS ON PHIL HOGAN TO APOLOGISE FOR GALWAY EVENT The country has been shaken by the fallout from the scandal nicknamed Golfgate, with several high-profile figures, including

Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary, resigning - but not, so far, Mr Hogan himself. The Oireachtas Golf Society dinner, held at the County Galway Station House Hotel last week, was attended

by roughly 80 people, went ahead despite new regulations agreed by Mr Martin's cabinet 24 hours earlier, which prohibited indoor gatherings of more than six. Mr Martin appeared on RTE

on Friday to call for Mr Hogan, Ireland's representative on the Commission, to apologise, which he subsequently did. However, last night Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar went further and

suggested the EU Commissioner for Trade should "consider his position" given the fall out. A Government spokesman said: "The Taoiseach and the Tanaiste [Mr Varadkar] did speak

with the Commissioner today and asked him to consider his position. "They both believe that the event should never have been held, that the Commissioner’s apology came late and that he

still needs to give a full account and explanations of his action." Mr Hogan today took to Twitter to repeat his apology but stop short of resigning. Phil Hogan has resisted calls for

his resignation (Image: PA) Phil Hogan with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Image: GETTY) In a series of tweets he said: “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. READ MORE: BREXIT SHOWDOWN -FROST 'STRESSES UK'S £2TRILLION FINANCIAL MUSCLE' Phil Hogan is the EU Commissioner for Trade (Image: Twitter)

Twitter users have suggested Ursula von der Leyen could take matters into her own hands (Image: Twitter) RELATED ARTICLES “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.” An official close to Mr Hogan later confirmed: “The commissioner is not resigning.”

Meanwhile, many have voiced their anger on social media via #philhogan. Some suggested Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission's President, should take matters into her own hands.

Liam Cahill said: "I can't see how @vonderleyen can ignore this now. DON'T MISS Brexit fury: Boris and Varadkar set to clash over UK-Ireland customs [INSIGHT] Varadkar

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highly critical (Image: GETTY) Micheal Martin and Leo Varadker have called on Mr Hogan to "consider his position" (Image: RTE) "I'd say Hogan will be gone either in time

for the This Week programme or the 6-1 News on Sunday... #golfgate #PhilHogan" Padraig McCann added: "The @EU_Commission President @vonderleyen can request @PhilHoganEU to resign.

"If #PhilHogan doesn't resign von der Leyen must reshuffle the Commissioners or ask Ireland to put forward a new candidate or the entire Commission can be voted down by the

@Europarl_EN #golfgate" In a series of tweets on Friday, Mr Hogan said: "I attended the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner on Wednesday on the clear understanding that the organisers

and the hotel concerned had been assured [by the Irish Hotels’ Federation] that the arrangements put in place would be in compliance with the government’s guidelines. Ursula von der

Leyen's European Commission (Image: Express) "Prior to the event, I had complied fully with the government’s quarantine requirements, having been in Ireland since late July."

Speaking after Mr Martin's appearance on RTE, a spokesman for Mr Martin added: "The Commissioner apologises for the distress caused by his participation." Speaking on Friday,

European Commission spokeswoman Dana Spinant 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." Dara Calleary, who was also at the event, has resigned as Agriculture

Minister (Image: GETTY) RELATED ARTICLES Speaking specifically about the social function, she added: "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. "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."