“I always feel like Irish people expect due process in the right forum. I didn’t get that. I wasn’t given that chance.”
Phil Hogan has said he is “very disappointed” with how he was treated in the wake of the golfgate controversy and said he endured “a full scale attack” from the government which left him no option but to resign.
Hogan resigned from his position as Ireland’s EU Commissioner due to controversy surrounding his attendance at an Oireachtas Golf Society event in Clifden and his movements in the country before and after the event.
In his first interview since his resignation, Hogan told the Kilkenny People: “I didn’t get due process, unlike others. I am very disappointed that there was a huge effort concentrated on my resignation.
“I always feel like Irish people expect due process in the right forum. I didn’t get that. I wasn’t given that chance.”
The event caused a public outcry which saw Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary resign from his position as Minister for Agriculture and a number of Senators to lose the party whip.
Hogan said he was left with “no option but to resign because of the huge pressure from the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the media”.
“The government had a full scale attack on my compliance or otherwise,” he said.
He added: “I broke no law. There was a lot of confusion around the advice. I tried my best. I made mistakes in terms of the interpretation of the regulations.”
Hogan revealed his intention to take some time off and reflect on what he would do next.
On Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Hogan’s former position will be filled by Mairead McGuinness.
She will take over the financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union portfolio.
“Ms McGuinness has significant political experience on EU issues, having been an MEP since 2004 and currently holding the post of first Vice-President of the European Parliament,” von der Leyen said.
“This experience is crucial in carrying forward the EU’s financial sector policy agenda and ensuring it supports and strengthens the Commission’s key priorities, notably the twin green and digital transition.”
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