EU trade commissioner resigns over Ireland Covid-19 breach

EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan resigned because of the controversy over alleged breaches of COVID-19 guidelines rules during a recent trip to his home country.

Hogan, 60, tendered his resignation to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as the row rumbled on, and strong indications from the Irish government he should fall on his sword.

"It was becoming increasingly clear that the controversy concerning my recent visit to Ireland was becoming a distraction from my work as an EU Commissioner and would undermine my work in the key months ahead," he said in a statement.

Hogan attended a parliamentary golf club dinner on August 19, in breach of coronavirus restrictions on social gathering numbers announced just 24 hours earlier in a bid to curb a surge in cases. The sporting evening was attended by around 80 diners - including a cabinet minister, a supreme court judge and lawmakers from Ireland's upper and lower houses of parliament, AFP reported.