Hogan attended the political golf society event at a hotel in Galway, a town in the west of Ireland, on August 19, a day after the Irish government imposed new restrictions on tackling a rise in cases.
Under the new measures – which were immediately effective – participation in indoor events was limited to six people, from the previously allowed amount of 50.
The golf event was attended by a number of political figures, including Ireland’s Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary, who resigned last week.
Hogan’s performance at the event caused a direct media storm.
In a statement on Wednesday, he said he deeply regretted his trip to Ireland and acknowledged that the “controversy” was becoming too distracting and “would undermine his work” in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she respected Hogan’s decision to resign, adding that she was “very grateful” for his “tiring work” in the role.
Hogan initially resigned when the golf dinner scandal, called “Golfgate” in Ireland, first arose.
On Tuesday, Hogan published a lengthy memorandum sent to von der Leyen, detailing the Irish restrictions and outlining how he maintained them during his stay in Ireland between 31 July and 21 August.
In the note, Hogan admitted that it was “abundantly clear” that the golf event should not be held and he should not attend.
Hogan said he received a negative result from the coronavirus test in early August at the hospital. In an interview Tuesday with Irish state broadcaster RTE News, he added that he “did everything possible to make sure he was not a risk to anyone.”
However, in the wake of the scandal, Irish leader Michael Martin and Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said they told Hogan “to consider his position.”
“I think he needs to apologize, and I think he needs to be much more complete in his response to this and understand the anger … across the country,” Martin told Irish media on Friday.
In his resignation statement on Wednesday, Hogan said he had “always sought to comply with all relevant Covid-19 regulations in Ireland and had understood that I had complied with all relevant public health guidelines, particularly following confirmation of a negative Covid-19 test. “
His statement reiterated his “heartfelt apology to the Irish people.”
Hogan had a long career in politics and only took up his role as European Commissioner for Trade in 2019.
He has previously served as Ireland’s Commissioner for Agricultural and Rural Development and has served in both Houses of Parliament of Ireland.
His resignation as Trade Commissioner is an unusual step within the halls of the EU.
The last EU Commissioner to resign was British Commissioner Jonathan Hill on 25 July 2019, following the results of the European Parliamentary elections.
Before that, the last dismissals were in 1999, when the entire college of commissioners stepped down.
The trade role is crucial, with the commissioner playing a key role in future Brexit negotiations.
Ireland will now have to nominate a new commissioner. Each of the 27 EU Member States has a Commissioner – this group is made up of the EU Commission. the executive organ of the trading bloc. The Commissioner for Trade oversees the EU’s common commercial policy.
The candidate nominated to succeed Hogan will have to appear before a European Parliamentary evaluation committee. If approved by the panel, the nominee will then be formally appointed Trade Commissioner by the European Council.
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