A DONEGAL-based Senator who attended Wednesday’s Oireachtas Golf Society event in Galway has issued an apology.
This morning, Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary resigned his position over his attendance at the event, held in Clifden, Co Galway.
Fianna Fáil Senator Niall Blaney was among the attendance of 81 people, which appeared to be in breach of Covid-19 guidelines.
In a brief statement, issued this morning, Senator Blaney said: “Earlier in the week I attended the Oireachtas golf outing, given the updated public health advice I should not have attended the dinner,” he said in the statement.
“I am sincerely sorry for this error in judgement and apologise unreservedly. I am very conscious of the enormous effort by people to battle this virus and keep everyone safe. My attendance was therefore wrong and I apologise.”
The Oireachtas Golf Society event was held at a function room, which was divided in two, and was to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
As it stands, the Government’s public health guidelines say that “no formal or informal events or parties should be organised” in restaurants and cafes, including pubs that serve food and hotel restaurants.
The event was organised by former Fianna Fail TD Donie Cassidy, president of the society, which honoured former Galway MEP Mark Killilea Jnr, who died in 2018.
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