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THE GOVERNMENT IS yet to decide whether to appoint another person to the role of UN special envoy on freedom of opinion and expression, following the Katherine Zappone controversy.
The former children’s minister stepped back from the role after a storm arose around the manner of her appointment.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney told RTÉ radio: “Clearly, there’s no point in appointing a special envoy unless it has the confidence and support of all stakeholders.
“That appointment of Katherine Zappone, as special envoy, has had attached to it so much controversy and criticism that obviously we now have to think carefully about how we appoint special envoys to make sure the process is credible, as well as the people.
“We’re going to reflect on that and I’ll probably make a statement on that towards the end of September.”
Coveney has already acknowledged that mistakes were made in the appointment of Ms Zappone.
Zappone would have earned up to €15,000 per year plus expenses for the role, which would have involved around 50 days’ work each year.
The appointment was criticised by opposition parties, who accused the Government of cronyism and a lack of due process in the appointment.
An event at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin, hosted by Zappone and attended by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, six days before her appointment, caused a political storm and led to a clarification of pandemic rules around outdoor hospitality.
Coveney said today that he was not at the gathering at the hotel and was in Africa at the time.
He said he made a “mistake” in not properly informing Taoiseach Micheal Martin about the appointment before Cabinet.
“It shouldn’t have happened and that was my fault,” he said.
Last week, the Public Accounts Committee confirmed that it will discuss the appointment of Zappone at a meeting in September.
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy, a member of the PAC, said: “The decisions that led to that appointment being made haven’t been clearly outlined to the Irish people.”
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Interesting how we can’t comment on the Ryanair article about them bulk buying a housing estate….
@Dave Murray: It’s a good idea though. Those cabin crew won’t be competing against others in the rental market. Saw the Soc Dem guy having a whinge about availability of new homes, but 25 houses is a drop in the ocean of the houses currently being built.
@Roy Kenneally: Good business by ryanair, they’re not the only ones doing this and more will follow.
@Roy Kenneally: I assume you’re not currently looking to buy in Swords.
@Jen McC: are you saying you would have been able to buy in swords if ryanair hadn’t bought housing for staff? Ryanair aren’t the enemy here.
@Martin Mongan: Ryanair should deal with hotels
Dear Journal,
Can you remove the begging pop up from your website. It’s cheap and unprofessional. Is this what you have become. Goodbye and keep up the tripe journalism
Frank Spencer pictured above will sort it out!
A no blame approach to covid enquiry…this government..innocent until proven innocent. What an absolute joke!
The covid 19 inquiry is going to take a no blame approach,where would you see it only Ireland a total fu c k up but none of the boys to blame, first one of blame holohan Codding all the people into taken them mad vaccines that were never tested properly
The management at these ‘universities’ are a self serving bunch.
The ATU in Galway being a prime example.
The admin staff treat the students and lecturers like dirt.
have your say