On 19 August EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan participated in a golf event at a hotel in Galway, together with 80 people, including many politicians. This was in breach with the COVID measures imposed by the Irish Government. This resulted in a media storm, the so-called “Golfgate”, that lead Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Dara Calleary, to resign shorty after, and finally Phil Hogan as well.
Commission President von der Leyen has requested Ireland to propose two candidates – a male and a female – to replace Phil Hogan as Ireland’s Commissioner. Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis will take over the trade portfolio in the meantime. Von der Leyen underlined that she expect(ed) the members of the College to be particularly vigilant about compliance with applicable national or regional rules or recommendations. The resignation is likely to require a reshuffle of EU Commissioners. (Sources: DeHavilland, POLITICO)