He believes that he has adhered to Covid-19 guidelines, and has released a full timeline of his past few weeks.
Phil Hogan has released a statement explaining his recent behaviour, claiming that he has adhered to Covid-19 guidelines at all times.
Firstly addressing the Galway golf party, he said: “At the outset I fully accept that it is abundantly clear that the event should not have been held and that I should not have attended this dinner. I accept this and have made a full apology to the Irish people for having done so.
“The legal obligations imposed by this Regulation rest with the organisers of the event rather than the attendees.
“I was an invited guest to the event on 19 August 2020 and was assured by the organisers and the Hotel that it was being held in full compliance with all relevant Covid-19 rules. I had no reason to question or doubt that assurance, particularly in circumstances where an Irish Government Minister was attending and speaking at the event. Again I now recognize that the event should not have proceeded and I should not have attended.”
Secondly, he says that he tested negative for Covid-19 after having landed in Ireland, saying: “I had submitted my contact details on the Passenger Locator Form I remained fully accessible to the authorities at all times as required by the Regulations, notwithstanding that my negative Covid-19 status had been determined since arrival to the State.”
Thus he believes that as he tested negative, there was no need to quarantine or self-isolate.
Finally, he explains that the three times he was in Kildare while it was in lockdown, were all for work reasons.
“To my best understanding, my justification for entering County Kildare to obtain essential working documents or to get my belongings for the purpose of returning home to Brussels constitutes “a reasonable excuse” under the regulations. At all times during my brief presence in Kildare over the period, I followed public health guidance.
“When in Kildare, I was either moving through the county or momentarily there with a reasonable excuse and consequently I was not in breach of the Covid-19 restrictions imposed.
“To the best of my knowledge and ability I believe that I complied with public health regulations in Ireland during my visit.”
Hogan apologised for being on his phone while driving, after it emerged that he was stopped by Gardaí.
He also released a full timeline, which can be seen below:
- 31 July – I arrived in Ireland, completed the statutory Passenger Locator Form and travelled to my temporary residence in Co. Kildare.
- 5 August – I was admitted to a Dublin hospital for a medical procedure.
- While in hospital, I tested negative for Covid-19 (www.citizensinformation.ie confirms that a negative test result ends the self-restriction period).
- 6 August – I was discharged from hospital and returned briefly to my temporary residence in County Kildare.
- 7 August – I travelled to Kilkenny before the local lockdown rules came into effect at midnight in Co. Kildare (and neighbouring counties Laois and Offaly).
- 12 August – I travelled to Dublin from Kilkenny for essential work reasons, which required my attendance at the European Commission office. While in Dublin, I also had separate meetings with the Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and with Minister Robert Troy, to brief them on events relating to ongoing negotiations with the U.S.
- 13 August – I played golf in Adare, Co. Limerick and returned to Kilkenny.
- 17 August – I travelled from Co. Kilkenny to Co. Galway via Co. Kildare. I stopped briefly in Co. Kildare at the property in which I had been staying for the purpose of collecting some personal belongings and essential papers relating to the ongoing negotiations with the USTR, Robert Lighthizer, which continued while I was in Co. Galway. This culminated in an agreement on a package of tariff reductions on 21 August.
- 18 August – I played golf in Co. Galway, staying in Clifden. (no formal dinner or reception).
- 19 August – I played golf in Clifden, and subsequently attended a formal dinner for which I have since apologised.
- 21 August – I returned from Galway to my temporary residence in Co. Kildare to collect my remaining personal belongings, including my passport, and stayed there overnight to catch an early morning flight to my primary residence in Brussels from the nearby airport.
- 22 August – I returned to Brussels.
Since then, another report in the Irish Examiner has claimed that he also dined out in Limerick, one day before his isolation period was due to end.
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