Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary has resigned after attending a golf event with 80 other politicians and friends in Connemara on Wednesday night.
It was just 24 hours after the Government announced a new mini-lockdown that sees restrictions tightened again in the battle against Covid-19.
The new advice is to limit gatherings to just six at home, 15 outdoors and a strict max of 50 at events organised in a socially-distanced way.
The plush do in the Station House Hotel in Clifden came after a round of golf on the Connemara Golf Club Championship Links, a bit further out in Ballyconneely.
EU Commissioner Phil Hogan was also in attendance at the event.
Deputy Calleary "apologised unreservedly" last night and was due to speak about the event on RTE's Morning Ireland today.
However, a spokesman told RTE that the minister wasn't "immediately available."
He has since resigned, it was revealed this morning.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin issued a statement this morning saying Mr Calleary had made the right decision and the "error of judgement was out of character".
Mr Martin said:"This morning Deputy Dara Calleary tendered his resignation as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, following his attendance at the Oireachtas golf dinner on Wednesday evening.
"His attendance at this event was wrong and an error of judgement 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 regulations.
"This event should not have gone ahead in the manner it did given the Government decision of last Tuesday.
"Dara Calleary, since he was first elected to Dail Eireann has been, and remains, a committed and dedicated public representative. This error of judgement was out of character.
"He has made the right decision for the country, particularly in the light of our continued efforts to suppress Covid-19."
