EU Commissioner – Kilkenny man Phil Hogan – was stopped by gardai for using mobile phone on route to controversial golf dinner

Pressure has mounted on Ireland’s EU Commissioner – former Kilkenny TD Phil Hogan – after it emerged he was stopped by gardaí for using his mobile phone while driving in Kildare on his way to the controversial golf society dinner in county Galway.

His spokesperson confirmed to RTÉ that the incident happened while Mr Hogan was on route from Kilkenny to Kildare to collect “personal belongings and essential documents” at his apartment there before driving on to Galway.

Mr Hogan’s spokesperson yesterday confirmed the EU Commissioner travelled “briefly” to Kildare before going to Clifden to attend the Oireachtas Golf Society event.

Mr Hogan had been staying in Kilkenny but visited his apartment in Kildare to collect “personal belongings and essential work documents”.

The spokesperson said Mr Hogan will not be resigning from his €330,000 a year EU post, despite public calls from Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar for him to reconsider his position.

The Kilkenny man yesterday issued a statement in which he offered his “fulsome and profound apology” for attending the dinner for 81 people last Wednesday, which has sparked a furious public backlash.