Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Dara Calleary has resigned after attending an 80-people golf event this week.
He apologised last night for going to the event that broke Covid 19 guidelines.
Last night I attended a function I committed to a number of weeks ago, to pay tribute to a person I respected and admired greatly. In light of the updated public health guidance this week I should not have attended the event. I wish to apologise unreservedly to everyone 1/2
— Dara Calleary (@daracalleary) August 20, 2020
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has accepted Mr Calleary’s resignation and a statement will be issued shortly.
Taoiseach will be the agriculture minister until the Dáil returns in three weeks.
The government’s guidelines state only six people can attend indoor gatherings – with some exceptions for up to 50 people.
Mr Calleary and EU commissioner Phil Hogan were among the guests at an Oireachtas Golf Society event in a hotel in Clifden, Co Galway Wednesday night.
Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer also attended, along with independent TD Noel Grealish, Supreme Court Judge Seamus Woulfe, and former RTÉ broadcaster Sean O’Rourke.
