RTÉ and host Sean O’Rourke have parted company after the presenter was spotted at an event last weekend in breach of Ireland’s Coronavirus restrictions currently in place.
Mr O’Rourke was amongst the guests attending the Oireachtas Golf Society event in Clifden, Co. Galway last week.
RTE said in a statement released on Monday; “After a meeting earlier today between RTÉ and Sean O’Rourke, it was mutually decided that Sean would not proceed with plans for future projects with RTÉ.
“RTÉ would like to thank Sean for his enormous contribution to broadcasting and wish him well with his future plans.”
Sean O’Rourke added;”I spent many years with RTÉ presenting programmes on which public figures were called to account for their actions. Now I must call myself to account. The right course is to set aside our plans for my return to the airwaves.”
On Twitter, O’Rourke commented further saying that he “should not have been at the dinner in Clifden”.
He went on to say that he; “was invited to play golf and I really didn’t consider it beyond that, other than to assume whatever was happening would be acceptable from a public health point of view.”
“I very much regret that lack of thought and interrogation on my part, and I apologise unreservedly for it.”
O’Rourke stood down from his position as the host of RTÉ Radio 1‘s Today programme earlier this year.