Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Dara Calleary has resigned after attending a controversial 80-people golf event this week.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin accepted the Minister's decision saying in a statement that it was an "error of judgement" and that he was "wrong" to attend.
He 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 supress Covid-19."
The Fianna Fail TD for Mayo “apologised unreservedly” last night for attending the event 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.
The new advice is telling the rest of the nation 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.
The golfing gentry of the Dáil and Seanad were out west to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the exclusive Oireachtas golf society.
Mr Calleary said: “Last night I attended a function I committed to a number of weeks ago, having been asked to pay tribute to a person I respected and admired greatly.
“In light of the updated public health guidance this week I should not have attended the event.
“I wish to apologise unreservedly to the public, from whom we are asking quite a lot at this difficult time.
“I also offer this apology and my sincere regret to my government colleagues.”
Mr Calleary was a guest speaker at the dinner where former Fianna Fáil MEP, and one of the founding members of the golf society, Mark Killelea, was being commemorated.
There was outrage from the public on social media, with many cancelling events themselves in recent days because of the new rules.
There will be none more peeved-off than those planning weddings who have had to cancel their treasured days because they couldn’t invite any friends and family over the 50 number mark.
