FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 30, 2019 filer, European Commissioner designate for Trade Phil Hogan answers questions during his hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels. Ireland’s prime minister has been forced to defend the future of his government as criticism mounted over a golf event attended by senior politicians despite a ban on large gatherings designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. The scandal erupted last week amid reports that more than 80 people, including senior members of Martin’s party, Fianna Fael, attended a golf society dinner in Galway on Aug. 19. Former Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary resigned over his attendance, as has Jerry Buttimer, the deputy speaker of the Senate. The government at first asked Phil Hogan, the European Union trade commissioner, to "consider his position’’ after he, too, attended the event, but has given him some space to explain his actions. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
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