By Tony O’Riley-
Irish Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary has resigned from his post after hypocritically attending an indoor golf society event with 80 other people, in direct breach of Covid regulations in Ireland.
The 47 year old, who has been a member of the Fianna Fáil National Executive since 1997 and has served on multiple party policy committees on Transport, had been in the post for just a month. He has brought his position and that of other politicians to disrepute.
A number of other politicians also attended the event, including Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer and Independent TD Noel Grealish.esigned . Mr Buttimer today resigned from his role as Leas Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.
Current guidelines state that no more than 50 people should gather indoors.Mr Calleary offered a late apology for his conduct in a statement issued on Thursday night.
He said: “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.
“We are asking quite a lot from everyone at this difficult time.
“I also offer this apology and my sincere regret to my Government colleagues.
In a statement, Buttimer said: “It was an honour to be elected Leas-Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann but my attendance at a dinner event in Galway this week has compromised the government at a time when people, across every sector of Irish society, are doing their best to keep all safe during this global pandemic.
“It was unintended but serious lapse of judgement in attending the event. I should not have attended the dinner and I hereby tender my resignation as Leas Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann to the Cathaoirleach of the 26th Seanad. I apologise unreservedly for my actions this week.
Other guests hypocritically breaching the rules by attending the gathering, included EU Commissioner Phil Hogan and former attorney general Seamus Woulfe. The Oireachtas Golf Society event was held at the Station House Hotel in Clifden, Co Galway.
Education minister Norma Foley apologised for the breach on behalf of the fallen minister.
She said: “It really was a very serious error of judgement. Dara has made a fulsome apology and he has put up both hands now and he has resigned,” Education Minister Norma Foley told national broadcaster
“It (the event) shouldn’t have taken place. The rules are clear, the rules are unambiguous. We must all play our part and behave as we have been asked to behave.” I understand the anger and frustration and indeed the disappointment,” she added.
“We are all being asked to play our part as we journey through Covid-19 so it absolutely should not have happened.
“But equally so, I want to say that Dara has made a fulsome apology, his remorse is absolutely genuine, and he has put up both hands now and he has resigned, and I think that is a measure of the man that he has done that.”
Cancellation Of Media Appearances
Calleary cancelled a number of media appearances he was due to make on Friday morning before his resignation was confirmed.
He quits the Cabinet just five weeks after being appointed to the role following the sacking of Barry Cowen. The breach adds to the distrust of politicians who make one rule for the public, but go against the very rules they make.
Many angry people who have made sacrifices to abide by Covid-19 rules are livid with his actions. Aiden O’Brian, 32, from Dublin, told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”this is becoming more and more pathetic. How can politicians make one rule for us, and another for them?
It begs the question as to whether they really believe the rules they are giving us, or whether it is an instrument of control to feed their egos. How could more than one politician breach the rules so blatantly, without any fear of repercussions”?
Another, Briana Connell, said:”The thought that these politicians were aware of the rules they made, and breached them in full view of the public, makes one think very hard. Either they think they are above the law, or they are sending sublime messages that they are under instructions to impose laws that need not be strictly followed.
This is so disgraceful, they must never be given any political posts again. They have badly damaged the public’s trust, which was never that strong anyway”.
The breaches and accompanying resignations come exactly 3 months after Boris Johnson’s adviser, Dominic Cummings, received wide condemnation for breaching the British government’s lockdown rules, after he was seen in Durham, 264 miles from his London home, despite having had symptoms of coronavirus.