Posted by Stephen Donnelly takes aim at Seamus Woulfe as he urges Ireland not to forget COVID restrictions
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Minister for Health Stepehen Donnelly has urged the public to follow guidelines as he blames ‘bad judgement’ for Golfgate attendance.
One of the attendees was Supreme Court Judge Seamus Woulfe, who recently had a report made on his attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner.
The report was made by former Chief Justice Susan Denham and in it she deemed it would be ‘disproportionate’ for Woulfe to resign from the Supreme Court.
Minister for Health Stepehen Donnelly has urged the public to follow guidelines as a report says it would be disproportionate’ for Supreme Court Judge Seamus Woulfe to resign over Golfgate attendace. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Following news of the dinner, then-Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary resigned as well as EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan due to their attendance.
While discussing the report on RTE’s Morning Ireland, Donnelly noted the separation between the government and the judiciary.
When asked if he would advise people ‘not to switch off’ when it came to following restrictions while on holiday, Donnelly ‘absolutely’ agreed.
When asked if he would advise people ‘not to switch off’ when it came to following restrictions while on holiday, Donnelly ‘absolutely’ agreed. Pic: Julien Behal Photography
The Minister for Health went on to say that he believed those who attended the event in the Galway hotel ‘did not intend to cause the anger and frustration’ that they did.
Donnelly said: ‘It was bad judgement by people who were certainly not trying to hurt and upset people, but unfortunately there was an awful lot of hurt and upset out of that.
‘All of the public health measures that we apply when we’re in our house, when we’re at work, when we’re playing sports, whatever it is, all of that does apply when we’re away as well.’
Pic: Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire
Donnelly urged every member of the public to say every day: ‘I’m going to do my best. I’m going to watch the two metres. I’m going to use the face coverings. I’m going to clean my hands. I’m going to follow the basic infection prevention control measures that we know work.’
His words come as Golfgate is once again thrown into the spotlight with Denham’s report finding there were not sufficient grounds to warrant the resignation of the judge.
His words come as Golfgate is one again thrown into the spotlight with Denham’s report found there were not sufficient grounds to warrant the resignation of the judge. Pic: Gareth Chaney Collins
Ms Denham said that while Mr Woulfe erred in deciding to attend the dinner, mitigating factors needed to be taken into account.
She found it was reasonable for him to rely on the assurances of the organisers and his own observations in relation to the compliance with COVID-19 regulations.
Meanwhile Government approved NPHET recommendation on new household visitation restrictions for the entire country. Pic: Julien Behal Photography
People are only to meet with one other household, and this goes for bars, restaurants, and other social settings.
These restrictions were already in place for Dublin and Donegal, who are under Level 3 restrictions but have now been applied to the rest of the country, which is under Level 2 restrictions. AdChoices
