Katherine Zappone · TheJournal.ie

# katherine-zappone - Last year 2021

# New Rules

New rules over special envoys published but no sign of filling the Katherine Zappone gig

Updated Nov 30th 2021, 7:21 PM 13,788 Views 17 Comments

A report was commissioned in the wake of a controversy over Zappone’s appointment this summer.

# New York

'I've been busy this week': Coveney says he's not met or spoken to Zappone while in New York

Sep 23rd 2021, 6:26 PM 11,440 Views 24 Comments

Zappone has declined an invite to come before an Oireachtas Committee to discuss her abandoned appointment as UN special envoy.

Taoiseach's Secretary General to come before Oireachtas Committee over Zappone appointment

# Katherine Zappone

Taoiseach's Secretary General to come before Oireachtas Committee over Zappone appointment

Sep 21st 2021, 12:26 PM 14,543 Views 16 Comments

Martin Fraser in the Department of An Taoiseach will face the committee, though Zappone has confirmed she will not.

Zappone a ‘private citizen’ says Taoiseach, after she turns down committee invite

# Zapponegate

Zappone a ‘private citizen’ says Taoiseach, after she turns down committee invite

Updated Sep 20th 2021, 8:40 PM 57,800 Views 103 Comments

Zappone declined an invite to face an Oireachtas Committee over her special envoy role.

Katherine Zappone will be asked to appear before an Oireachtas Committee to answer questions

# Rolling Controversy

Katherine Zappone will be asked to appear before an Oireachtas Committee to answer questions

Sep 15th 2021, 2:28 PM 13,271 Views 45 Comments

The Foreign Affairs Committee agreed to extend the request this morning.

Simon Coveney ’embarrassed’ by Katherine Zappone fiasco

# Zapponegate

Simon Coveney ’embarrassed’ by Katherine Zappone fiasco

Updated Sep 14th 2021, 4:50 PM 44,353 Views 124 Comments

Sinn Féin is set to table a motion of no confidence in Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney tomorrow.

As Fine Gael think-in begins, Varadkar and ministers apologise to their party for 'bad summer'

# Reset

As Fine Gael think-in begins, Varadkar and ministers apologise to their party for 'bad summer'

Updated Sep 13th 2021, 3:30 PM 36,762 Views 86 Comments

The FG leader said it was time to “refresh, regroup and reset”.

Taoiseach 'has confidence' in Simon Coveney, says spokesperson

# Zapponegate

Taoiseach 'has confidence' in Simon Coveney, says spokesperson

Updated Sep 8th 2021, 5:50 PM 51,160 Views 189 Comments

His comment comes after Mary Lou McDonald said today that Simon Coveney cannot stay on.

'There can be no doubt about how appointments are made': Taoiseach reacts to Coveney's apology

# Simon Coveney

'There can be no doubt about how appointments are made': Taoiseach reacts to Coveney's apology

Updated Sep 7th 2021, 9:28 PM 29,358 Views 115 Comments

Coveney was grilled further on the Zappone controversy before an Oireachtas Committee today.

'It wasn’t a job offer': Coveney says Zappone should have been told role wasn't a 'done deal'

# Sorry

'It wasn’t a job offer': Coveney says Zappone should have been told role wasn't a 'done deal'

Updated Sep 7th 2021, 1:00 PM 46,962 Views 148 Comments

Coveney acknowledges "making mistakes in recent weeks" and that this has created "a political embarrassment for the Government"
In hindsight , Coveney says it would have been helpful for him to respond to Zappone's text to tell her that it was not a job offer, but rather a concept.
The minister called Zappone on Sunday to tell her their text messages were being released

Future special envoys should be appointed through open competition, says Taoiseach

# Transparency

Future special envoys should be appointed through open competition, says Taoiseach

Sep 6th 2021, 2:54 PM 9,960 Views 26 Comments

The Department of Foreign Affairs is expected to publish documents today relating to Katherine Zappone’s role.

Taoiseach must 'stamp his authority' and put an end to Zappone row, Fianna Fáil TD says

# James Lawless

Taoiseach must 'stamp his authority' and put an end to Zappone row, Fianna Fáil TD says

Sep 5th 2021, 3:27 PM 25,759 Views 55 Comments

James Lawless described the controversy as a “Fine Gael mess” and insisted: “There’s not a single Fianna Fail-er near this.”

‘Comprehensive’ information will clarify Zappone appointment, Taoiseach says

# Merriongate

‘Comprehensive’ information will clarify Zappone appointment, Taoiseach says

Sep 4th 2021, 3:10 PM 14,110 Views 48 Comments

Micheál Martin denied the row is proving a distraction to the Government.

Explainer: Why are people still talking about the Zappone/Coveney/Varadkar controversy?

# Merrion Gate

Explainer: Why are people still talking about the Zappone/Coveney/Varadkar controversy?

Sep 4th 2021, 12:05 AM 32,534 Views 83 Comments

Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney and Katherine Zappone have been drawn back into controversy this week.
Developments included deleted and revealed texts, FOI requests and an Oireachtas committee.
Orla Dwyer takes a look back at what happened in late July and what the situation is now.

Sinn Féin calls for all documents related to Zappone appointment to be published

# Simon SMS

Sinn Féin calls for all documents related to Zappone appointment to be published

Sep 3rd 2021, 3:56 PM 10,728 Views 84 Comments

TD Matt Carthy said the Department of Foreign Affairs should also clarify if any other relevant documents have been erased.

'You're trying to say an apple's an orange': Martin and Varadkar want perspective on Zapponegate

# Disagreed

'You're trying to say an apple's an orange': Martin and Varadkar want perspective on Zapponegate

Sep 2nd 2021, 7:10 PM 17,996 Views 37 Comments

The Tánaiste said he regrets going “anywhere near” the Merrion Hotel event.

Coveney asks to appear before Oireachtas Committee to clarify text controversy

# Merrion

Coveney asks to appear before Oireachtas Committee to clarify text controversy

Updated Sep 2nd 2021, 5:28 PM 42,553 Views 116 Comments

The fallout from the Zappone controversy continues.

'Is it definitely legal?' - Varadkar releases screengrabs of his texts with Zappone and Coveney

# Spelling It Out

'Is it definitely legal?' - Varadkar releases screengrabs of his texts with Zappone and Coveney

Updated Sep 1st 2021, 9:38 PM 109,944 Views 85 Comments

New screenshots show conversations between Leo Varadkar with Katherine Zappone and Simon Coveney in July.
The Tánaiste and Zappone discussed her event at the Merrion Hotel, including whether it was "definitely legal".
She asked the Tánaiste if he had heard anything about her prospective appointment as a UN Special Envoy.

'I've been hacked': Coveney says he is being 'prudent' by clearing his phone regularly

# Zapponegate

'I've been hacked': Coveney says he is being 'prudent' by clearing his phone regularly

Updated Sep 1st 2021, 1:40 PM 28,797 Views 45 Comments

Simon Coveney said yesterday that Katherine Zappone did not lobby him for a job.

Coveney received a text but not a 'formal invitation' to Zappone event at Merrion Hotel

# Zapponegate

Coveney received a text but not a 'formal invitation' to Zappone event at Merrion Hotel

Updated Aug 31st 2021, 6:07 PM 35,727 Views 45 Comments

The minister is facing scrutiny from an Oireachtas committee over Katherine Zappone’s appointment as a UN envoy.

No decision yet on Katherine Zappone replacement - Coveney

# Merriongate

No decision yet on Katherine Zappone replacement - Coveney

Aug 16th 2021, 5:57 PM 14,034 Views 30 Comments

He acknowledged that mistakes were made in the appointment of the former children’s minister as a UN special envoy.

Public Accounts Committee to discuss Katherine Zappone’s appointment as UN envoy

# Controversy

Public Accounts Committee to discuss Katherine Zappone’s appointment as UN envoy

Aug 13th 2021, 5:04 PM 19,768 Views 47 Comments

The former children’s minister stepped back from the role amid controversy over the manner of her appointment.

Paschal Donohoe says he 'absolutely accepts' Leo Varadkar's explanations about 'Merrion Gate'

# Taxation Report

Paschal Donohoe says he 'absolutely accepts' Leo Varadkar's explanations about 'Merrion Gate'

Aug 10th 2021, 1:49 PM 24,866 Views 68 Comments

Donohoe also said today that he was invited to the event but was out of the country when it took place.

Eamon Ryan 'regrets' controversy caused by Zappone and Green Party events

# Guidelines

Eamon Ryan 'regrets' controversy caused by Zappone and Green Party events

Aug 9th 2021, 10:55 AM 31,634 Views 76 Comments

“In hindsight, in terms of maintaining public confidence, I’d prefer had we not attended those events,” the minister said today.

'Further clarity' was needed on guidelines after Zappone event, Taoiseach says

# Merrion Gate

'Further clarity' was needed on guidelines after Zappone event, Taoiseach says

Aug 8th 2021, 2:24 PM 38,123 Views 91 Comments

Micheál Martin issued his first comments today about the event which was attended by 50 people including Leo Varadkar.

Live music allowed in outdoor settings under updated hospitality guidelines

# New Rules

Live music allowed in outdoor settings under updated hospitality guidelines

Aug 6th 2021, 11:29 AM 45,491 Views 108 Comments

The update comes after advice from the Attorney General, Órla Ryan reports
The latest update comes amid controversy over an event organised by former minister Katherine Zappone
Weddings fall under a different regulation and have an upper limit of 100 guests

Merrion Gate: Taoiseach and Tánaiste called on to explain 'grubby little episode'

# Covid Guidelines

Merrion Gate: Taoiseach and Tánaiste called on to explain 'grubby little episode'

Updated Aug 5th 2021, 5:42 PM 54,528 Views 103 Comments

The government yesterday said that outdoor events of up to 200 people can take place.

Junior Foreign Affairs Minister can't say if UN job offered to Zappone will be filled

# Freedom Of Expression

Junior Foreign Affairs Minister can't say if UN job offered to Zappone will be filled

Updated Aug 5th 2021, 4:38 PM 15,339 Views 21 Comments

The DFA has said a decision on the next steps will not be taken until next month.

Katherine Zappone says she will not accept UN envoy role after days of mounting political pressure

# Merrion Hotel

Katherine Zappone says she will not accept UN envoy role after days of mounting political pressure

Updated Aug 4th 2021, 5:46 PM 121,576 Views 223 Comments

Political pressure has mounted since it emerged Zappone held an event for 50 people before being appointed.
The Merrion Hotel, where the event was hosted, said that all Covid-19 guidelines were followed at the event.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has released a statement saying he was only in attendance for 45 minutes.