Brussels, Aug 27: European Union trade commissioner Phil Hogan resigned on Thursday after the Irish government accused him of breaching COVID-19 guidelines.
Mr Hogan attended a golf dinner with more than 80 people in County Galway on 19 August, BBC reported. He was also criticised for not complying with quarantine rules after his arrival in Ireland from Brussels.
Mr Hogan however, said he did not break any law but he “should have been more rigorous” in his adherence to the COVID guidelines.
Expressing regret in his resignation letter Mr Hogan said he regretted his trip to Ireland had “caused such concern, unease and upset”. “I reiterate my heartfelt apology to the Irish people for the mistakes I made during my visit,” he added.
On Tuesday, Mr Hogan provided details to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to whom he is answerable, about his time in Ireland and his participation in the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) Golf Society event.
Mr Hogan had arrived in Ireland on July 31 and travelled to his temporary residence in Kildare and tested negative for COVID-19 on August 5 during a hospital visit.
He told Irish state broadcaster RT? he had not breached regulations and argued the test result meant he was “not under any subsequent legal requirement to self-isolate or quarantine”.
According to Ireland’s Department of Health guidelines a person is required to restrict their movements for 14 days after they arrive in Ireland from a country not yet on the green list. It said the guidance does not state that a negative COVID-19 test shortens the 14-days requirement. (UNI)
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