“I am satisfied arising from the test that I did that proved it was negative that I was no risk to anybody.”
EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan has said that he made “a mistake” but insisted he broke no regulations during the goflgate controversy.
Speaking to Tony Connelly on RTÉ News, Hogan said he should have apologised in full last Friday.
“I should have issued a fulsome apology on the Friday when all of this was breaking,” Hogan said.
“I did not do so, and I regret that. I apologised strongly on Sunday and I did that in as fulsome a way as I possibly could.
“I broke no regulations in my view. I did my work. I was home on holidays. I tested negative for Covid-19 but I did not break any Covid-19 regulations.
“I apologise profusely to the Ireland people and I hope they will accept that,” Hogan said.
Hogan provided a breakdown of his movements in a report to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday which included details of a trip to Adare in Limerick to play golf on 13 August.
Hogan insisted in the report that he had adhered to the government’s Covid-19 guidelines at all times and said he was not required to “self-isolate or quarantine” because he had received a negative test for Covid-19 following a visit to hospital.
Speaking to RTÉ News on Tuesday, Hogan said this test meant he did not have to quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days.
“I am satisfied arising from the test that I did that proved it was negative that I was no risk to anybody,” Mr Hogan said.
“Because of the fact that I had a negative test. Because my medical people said I was no risk to anybody. I checked with the Citizens Information website which is funded by the HSE and I felt that I was no risk to anybody by going to Adare.”
However, according to the HSE website, travellers to Ireland from a non-Green List country must isolate for 14 days regardless of if they test negative for Covid-19, as it can take up to 14 days for the virus to show up in your system after you have been exposed to it.
In response to a question from Connelly on this, Hogan said: “Well, I don’t accept that.
He added: “I did everything possible to ensure that I was no risk to anybody.”
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