The European Commissioner for Trade, the Irish Phil Hogan, defended himself on Tuesday for having knowingly violated the anti-virus health rules in his country, explaining once again about his presence at a dinner which caused a scandal in Ireland and weakened it in Brussels.
Read also: Ireland: a minister resigns for violation of restrictions linked to the pandemic
Under pressure from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Phil Hogan described in a four-page press release his visit to his country from July 31 to August 21. He apologized once again. He admits that he " should not have attended this dinner ", organized for the 50th anniversary of the Irish Parliament golf club with 82 guests, which led several people to resign, including the Irish Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary.
Stating that he had received " the assurance by the organizers that the dinner would respect all the sanitary rules ", he added to have had " no reason to doubt it since a member of the Irish government was also participating in the event ". Ms. von der Leyen, who has the power to dismiss him, wanted him to detail his actions during his stay. " Once in possession of a detailed report, the President of the Commission will be sure to have an overview, which will allow her to reach a conclusion, " said a spokesperson for the Commission at the time. a press point.
Many excuses
Mr Hogan was also caught on the phone while driving by an Irish police officer two days before the dinner. “ I sincerely regret answering the phone while driving, ” he wrote. Interviewed by the Irish public channel RTE on Tuesday, Mr. Hogan defended himself for violating the two-week quarantine to which he was subjected after his arrival in the country.
“ I have done everything possible to make sure that I do not put anyone at risk ,” he told RTE. During a visit to the hospital, " I tested negative for Covid-19 and my doctor told me that I was free to leave, " he said, justifying his decision to end at this quarantine. He reiterated his apologies for attending the gala dinner, claiming to have " made a mistake " and saying he was " embarrassed ".
This case comes against a delicate backdrop of continuing trade tensions between the US and the EU and Hogan's resignation from the Commission would further complicate the difficult ongoing negotiations. The relatively rare resignation of a Commissioner is always a delicate matter because it affects the whole of the geographical and political balance on which the Commission is based.
Each EU country has a commissioner post. And the team of 26 people chaired by the German conservative is the result of a clever mix between the main political families of the EU, according to their results in the European elections of May 2019. Nothing says that in case of Mr. Hogan's departure, Ireland would manage to keep the prestigious post of Trade Commissioner that another country might covet.
