I made a big mistake; I should not have gone to the function - Calleary

The former Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dara Calleary, has apologised to all the people he 'let down' by attending a function with 80 other people in Clifden on Wednesday evening.

“I made a big mistake,” he said to Tommy Marren on Midwest Radio. “I should not have gone to the function but I didn't want to let people down.”

The Fianna Fáil deputy continued: “I've angered a lot of people. I've had messages from people about how angry and distressed they are. I apologise to all I've let down and I will have to work extra hard to regain their trust.”

Deputy Calleary said he had made enquiries before the event and understood that everything would be done in line with social distancing. While there was a lot of social distancing at the event, he said, new regulations had been introduced on Tuesday and there was 'crossover' in relation to those.

As someone who sat at the cabinet table and oversaw the introduction of those new regulations, it wasn't in any way appropriate for a member of government to ignore those regulations in the way he did. “That's why I take responsibility,” he stated.

“I should have had the cop on not to go to the function and not be part of any function for the next few weeks. I need to show I understand people's anger and distress at this.”

On the point of whether he resigned or was forced to resign, Deputy Calleary explained: “It was my call and my judgement at the end of the day. To my supporters and councillors, I apologise to them all. They're getting flak as well today, and I apologise to them. I set myself a certain standard in public life and always try to abide by that. I went so far below that on Wednesday evening.”

The Ballina native acknowledged that he would pay for his mistake for a long time but said he would work even harder to regain the trust of the people. “It will be a long road back,” he added, “and again I apologise to my team.”

Deputy Calleary will now take his place on the back benches, from where, he said, he will continue with the big job of work he has in front of him.

With regard to his position as Fianna Fáil deputy leader, he said it hadn't been discussed and ultimately it would be a decision for Taoiseach Martin.

The chairman of the Ballina Fianna Fáil Comhairle Ceantair Matt Farrell has said the organisation both locally and nationally "are in big shock" at the events that have led to the resignation of Deputy Calleary from ministerial office.

Mr. Farrell said that many who know and have worked with Mr. Calleary "were understandably disappointed" that he had attended the event in Co Galway on Wednesday night.

Mr Farrell said that he had spoken to Mr. Calleary this morning and he had apologised to him for his ill-judgement.