DUBLIN — Minister of Agriculture, Dara Calleary resigned his post on Friday as a political crisis engulfed the Irish government. Calleary resigned after it emerged he had attended a dinner for 80 people hosted by the Oireachtas Golf Society, a parliamentary group which organizes regular golf outings.

Several prominent figures, including senators, an EU commissioner and a Supreme Court judge, are in the dock for attending the golfing event that breached official COVID-19 rules.

The dinner was also attended by Senator Jerry Buttimer, the deputy chairperson of the Seanad, the Irish Senate, who also resigned on Friday. Ireland's EU commissioner, Phil Hogan and Supreme Court justice and former Attorney General, Séamus Wolfe were also attendance at the event in Clifden, County Galway on Wednesday. They are both also facing calls to resign.

An Garda Síochána, Ireland's police force, is now investigating the event with attendees, including members of parliament and senators, set to face questioning. Current government restrictions cap indoor gatherings at up to 50 people, with further clarifications issued this week identifying only weddings and cultural events as being allowed this many attendees.

Calleary is the second agriculture minister to resign from Taoiseach Michéal Martin's 54-day-old government after his predecessor Barry Cowen was sacked in July over the controversy surrounding a drink-driving ban imposed on him in 2016.

Martin's Fianna Fáil formed a coalition government on June 27 after protracted negotiations with historic rivals Fine Gael and the Green Party. In a statement, the Taoiseach said: "His [Calleary's] attendance at this event was wrong and an error of judgment on his part. I have accepted his resignation.

"People all over the country have made very difficult, personal sacrifices in their family lives and in their businesses to comply with COVID-19 regulations. This event should not have gone ahead in the manner it did given the government decision of last Tuesday."

Leo Varadkar, the Tánaiste or deputy prime minister, was also forced to remove the whip from several senators from his Fine Gael party who attended the event, including Buttimer.

In comments posted on Twitter, he said: "The event organized by the Oireachtas Golf Society should not have happened. I understand how extremely difficult the restrictions have been for people and the enormous sacrifices we have all made.

"Funerals, christenings, weddings, family holidays and other really important family occasions have been foregone to protect each other and the most vulnerable. As representatives, we should lead by example."

He added: "All have apologized profusely and accept they made a serious error of judgment."

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald criticized the government on Twitter, calling it "increasingly chaotic, confused, with no direction." — Euronews