Golfgate trio welcomed back by FG

Leo wants senators working

THE three Coalition Senators exiled from their parties for their attendance at the infamous ‘golfgate’ dinner have been welcomed back into the fold.

The three Fine Gael Senators that lost the whip – Jerry Buttimer, Paddy Burke and John Cummins – were readmitted into the party by a unanimous vote held at a parliamentary party meeting yesterday, after an almost five-month exodus.

Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar said at a meeting yesterday that it was ‘time for them to get back to work’, sources say.

It came after the Oireachtas Golf Society Dinner, where 80 people gathered in a hotel in Clifden, Co.

Galway, became a major controversy as it broke the Government’s Covid-19 restrictions that were introduced the previous day. The rules stipulated that no more than six people could gather indoors.

As a result, agriculture minister Dara Calleary resigned from his newly appointed position, as did EU Commissioner Phil Hogan following a prolonged struggle.

Supreme Court Judge Seamus Woulfe was also caught up in the controversy, but managed to hold on to his position.

Mr Hogan has previously told reporters he has been offered work in a number of different ‘sectors’ but added that he was not at liberty to discuss what they were.

However, senior Fine Gael sources were adamant last night that ‘big Phil’ was not welcomed back into the party, with one saying he ‘has not been hanging around Fine Gael anyway’.

It came as the three Fianna Fail Senators cast out of their party over ‘golf gate’ are also expected to be readmitted to the fold today.

Fine Gael leader Mr Varadkar is understood to have welcomed his Senators back into the party at the meeting.

Sources present confirmed the Tánaiste told the meeting: ‘At the start of a new Oireachtas session I think it is time to readmit Senators Jerry Buttimer, Paddy Burke and John Cummins back into the parliamentary party.

‘They all acknowledged that what happened at the Oireachtas Golf event should not have happened, apologised and took responsibility immediately.

‘It’s time for them to get back to working with us across the whole range of Oireachtas work, including relating to battling against Covid.’

It is also ‘highly likely’ that the three Fianna Fail Senators – Paul Daly, Aidan Davitt and Niall Blaney – who lost the party whip will be readmitted into the party today.

Mr Daly told the Mail last night: ‘I am hoping to be back. I am looking forward to getting back in. It is my rightful place in my own opinion.’

‘They have apologised’