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Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has rejected former EU Commissioner Phil Hogan’s claim that he had been subjected to a “full-scale attack” by the coalition with a lack of natural justice upon his expulsion.
The mockery of Mr Hogan came when he was also asked about the meeting he had with the director of Fáilte Ireland, Breege O’Donoghue, after she did it with the Covid coup in Spain while the agency urged the holidays in House.
“I hope we don’t get to the point where every person we meet has to record their movements,” Varadkar said. “And again, we would have no way to verify whether it is true or not, as we have discovered.”
Varadkar said he did not accept Hogan’s assessment of his treatment, as described in comments made in an interview by the Kilkenny People.
“I saw that statement, I really don’t agree – ultimately, no one in government wanted to lose a cabinet member or a commissioner,” he said.
“But all of this could have been avoided if those involved had obeyed our laws and followed public health guidelines and rules and regulations.”
Mr. Varadkar added in Government Buildings: “We must not forget why this became a subject of so much controversy and public anger.
“It was because people felt that those in high positions, those who make the rules, were not following them. I think of all the people who had to cancel their overseas holidays due to the 14 day rule, all the people who couldn’t attend a funeral they wanted, and all the people in Kildare who had to cancel their own domestic trips to other counties. All of that was part of this.
“We as a government could not endure a situation where we would say that those who hold the most important positions, those who hold the highest office, somehow should not have to adhere to the minimum standards that we are asking of all the rest. adhere to. That’s what caused this. “
Mr. Hogan told his local newspaper that he had not violated any laws and stated: “I did not get due process, unlike others. I am very disappointed that there is a lot of effort focused on my resignation. “
He claimed he was left with no choice but to resign because he was subjected to a “full-scale attack” by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan.
“I always feel that the Irish expect due process in the right forum. I did not understand that. They didn’t give me that opportunity, ”he said.
“The government had a full-scale attack on my compliance or otherwise.” said Mr Hogan, who said he would remain in Brussels, assessing his future, for the foreseeable future.
Varadkar said he had not spoken to Hogan since his resignation.
He added: “I meet a lot of people every day, and I still haven’t had the practice of asking them if they have been abroad or if they have adhered to quarantine regulations.”
Mr. Varadkar made his comments accompanied by the Taoiseach and Mr. Ryan, who did not comment on the matter or deviate from the Tanaiste’s comments.
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