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Brian Hayes, executive director of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI), considered resigning after attending this year’s controversial Oireachtas golf society dinner, said former Minister of State and Fine Gael MEP.
Hayes said his presence at the August meeting this year was “a major error in judgment.” The event led to the resignation of the then Minister of Agriculture, Dara Calleary, and the European Commissioner Phil Hogan. With more than 80 people in attendance, it went ahead despite Covid-19 public health guidelines that place limits on indoor gatherings.
When asked if he had considered resigning, he said: “I did, but I felt that, having spoken with our board, it was not appropriate. I assumed an important responsibility in an important sector. A sector in which I believe, which has made many mistakes in the past, but a sector that is important for the future of this country ”.
“And I thought the right thing to do was to go ahead, apologize, which I did, and I have no difficulty apologizing to you again now,” he told RTÉ Radio’s Drivetime program.
Several times, Mr. Hayes got back to the point that he was on vacation when the event occurred and that he usually attended golf dinner as part of his vacation routine.
When asked if he could understand the perception that there was a golden circle of politicians socializing with representatives of the banking sector, he said that was not what happened. “Anyone who knows me knows that I play golf. They know that I am a former member of the Oireachtas. It was a social setting for the people. “
“All I can tell you is the truth and I know others want to represent it differently, but that is other people’s business.”
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