Táiniste removes parliamentary privileges from three Fine Gael Senators



Gardaí are investigating possible breaches of Covid-19 guidelines at a an Oireachtas dinner in Galway on Wednesday night.

Dara Calleary, who was one of 81 people to attend the event, has resigned as Minster for Agriculture.

So too has the Leas Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Jerry Buttimer.

The Taoiseach Micheal Martin says the event should NOT have taken place.

Táinaiste Leo Varadkar has removed parliamentary party privileges from three Fine Gael Senators who attended the event: Jerry Buttimer, Paddy Burke and John Cummins.

There’s been no public comment yet from the three Sligo-Leitrim guests, who were listed as attendees at the event.

Wednesday’s event at the Station House hotel in Clifden was a celebration dinner, organised by Oireachtas Golf Society – to honour late former Fianna Fail MEP Mark Killilea.

It took place just 24 hours after Dara Calleary and his Cabinet colleagues agreed to implement stringent Covid-19 restrictions which banned any indoor gathering of more than six people.

The table plan for the dinner shows several high profile guests were due to attend including EU Commissioner Phil Hogan, former Attorney General and Judge Seamus Wolfe, RTE broadcaster Sean O’Rourke.

In a tweet today, Mr Hogan said he had fully complied with the government quarantine regulations prior to the event, having returned to Ireland from Brussels in July.

The list of names also includes former Sligo/Leitrim TD Gerry Reynolds.

Former Fine Gael senator and Sligo Councillor Imelda Henry and former Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council Enda McGloin.

Ocean FM news is awaiting a response from the trio about whether  they attended Wednesday’s event.

Sligo/Leitrim Sinn Fein TD, Martin Kenny, says it’s ‘baffling’ that such an event would happened in the first place.



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