# Simon Coveney

All time

Longer opening hours for pubs and nightclubs under new laws, as publicans call for 5am closing time

A memo gone to Cabinet today sets out that the country’s licensing laws need to be updated as some date back to the 19th century.

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Sep 15th 2021, 12:17 PM

# Zapponegate

Simon Coveney ’embarrassed’ by Katherine Zappone fiasco

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

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Sep 14th 2021, 4:50 PM

# documentary

Defence Forces 'commends bravery' of female members who came forward to make harassment complaints

The terms of reference of an independent review into harassment and bullying in the Defence Forces are due to be finalised this week.

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Sep 13th 2021, 7:13 PM

# reset

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

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

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Sep 13th 2021, 3:30 PM

# Zapponegate

Sinn Féin motion on Coveney is a publicity stunt, says Humphreys

The Minister for Social Protection said today that there are “more important things” than the controversy surrounding Coveney’s appointment of Katherine Zappone to a UN special envoy position.

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Sep 12th 2021, 4:03 PM

# zappone saga

Taoiseach expects Fianna Fáil TDs to back Simon Coveney in confidence motion next week

Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy said the Taoiseach has failed to hold Coveney to account over the Zappone saga.

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Sep 10th 2021, 2:56 PM

# Women's Rights

'We need enormous effort': Coveney leads UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan in New York

The foreign affairs minister visited the 9/11 memorial earlier today.

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Sep 9th 2021, 9:40 PM

# United Nations

Coveney to chair UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan in New York

The foreign affairs minister will also visit the 9/11 memorial ahead of the 20th anniversary of the attack.

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Sep 8th 2021, 8:30 PM

# Zapponegate

Taoiseach 'has confidence' in Simon Coveney, says spokesperson

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

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Sep 8th 2021, 5:50 PM

# Simon Coveney

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

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

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Sep 7th 2021, 9:28 PM

# Sorry

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

The minister said his mistakes in recent weeks had contributed to what has become a political embarrassment.

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

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Sep 7th 2021, 1:00 PM

# Zapponegate

'A crisis in FOI': How Zapponegate highlighted crucial flaws in Ireland's transparency legislation

The latest controversy has raised concerns among journalists and transparency activists.

Latest episode in controversy has seen concerns raised by journalists, transparency activists and opposition TDs, Stephen McDermott writes.

Simon Coveney set to appear before Oireachtas committee this morning, following admission last week that he deleted text messages.

Department of Foreign Affairs published 111 records relating to proposed Zappone appointment yesterday on foot of numerous FOI requests.

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Sep 7th 2021, 12:05 AM

# document drop

Zapponegate: Ex-Minister texted Coveney to say thanks for 'incredible opportunity' in March

111 documents released by Coveney’s department today shed more light on the timeline of the process.

Coveney is due back before an Oireachtas committee tomorrow morning and has promised to answer questions on the documents.

Texts released today add further detail to the timeline surrounding the planned appointment of Zappone to the UN envoy role.

The document dump also includes a text from Zappone in the aftermath of the Merrion-gate controversy.

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Sep 6th 2021, 5:20 PM

# Transparency

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

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

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Sep 6th 2021, 2:54 PM

# James Lawless

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

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

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Sep 5th 2021, 3:27 PM

# merriongate

‘Comprehensive’ information will clarify Zappone appointment, Taoiseach says

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

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Sep 4th 2021, 3:10 PM

# Merrion Gate

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

There have been a lot of twists and turns. But why does it all matter?

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.

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Sep 4th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Simon SMS

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

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

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Sep 3rd 2021, 3:56 PM

# Your Say

Poll: Do you delete your text messages?

It’s all the rage.

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Sep 3rd 2021, 10:05 AM

# Merrion

Coveney asks to appear before Oireachtas Committee to clarify text controversy

The fallout from the Zappone controversy continues.

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Sep 2nd 2021, 5:28 PM

# Spelling it out

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

The Tánaiste and Katherine Zappone discussed the Merrion event over text, including whether it was “definitely legal”.

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.

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Sep 1st 2021, 9:38 PM

# Kabul

Work ongoing to get 60 Irish citizens out of Afghanistan, says Coveney

The minister said that Ireland has now granted 280 refugee status papers to Afghan citizens who want to leave and are in danger.

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Sep 1st 2021, 4:15 PM

# Zapponegate

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

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

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Sep 1st 2021, 1:40 PM

# Zapponegate

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

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

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Aug 31st 2021, 6:07 PM

# homebound

Irish evacuees returning through France and Finland after departure from Kabul

Another 60 Irish citizens are still in the country, with operations to evacuate civilians now “effectively closed”.

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Aug 27th 2021, 9:24 AM

# Kabul Airport

Irish evacuation mission from Kabul Airport ends with rescue of 36 people

At least 60 Irish citizens remain in Afghanistan.

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Aug 26th 2021, 6:07 PM

# Coronavirus

Donnelly says all restrictions should be gone by Christmas, Holohan says he hopes 'much sooner'

Cabinet will meet next week to sign off on a reopening plan.

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Aug 24th 2021, 3:15 PM

# Backlash

Scenes of large gatherings around All-Ireland hurling final 'indefensible', says Coveney

Minster for Foreign Affairs also admitted what happened at Croke Park ‘isn’t how that was supposed to work’ after negotiations with GAA to allow 40,000 to attend.

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Aug 24th 2021, 3:01 PM

# Afghanistan

Army Rangers being sent to Kabul to help with evacuation of Irish citizens

They are expected to arrive into Kabul on Thursday.

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Aug 23rd 2021, 8:56 PM

# Afghanistan

Two more Irish citizens evacuated from Afghanistan

A total of eight Irish citizens have now been evacuated, with 34 remaining in the country.

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Aug 22nd 2021, 2:00 PM

# Irish in Afghanistan

Three more Irish people evacuated from Afghanistan

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said that a total of six Irish citizens have now left the country.

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Aug 20th 2021, 2:01 PM

# Irish in Afghanistan

Taliban escorted Meath woman to Kabul airport as 36 Irish citizens remain in Afghanistan

Aoife MacManus, one of the three Irish people who has left Afghanistan, spoke to Nuacht RTÉ this evening.

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Aug 19th 2021, 7:20 PM

# live events

Political pressure grows for live music roadmap by end of August

Simon Coveney said today that the sector would have more certainty soon.

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Aug 19th 2021, 3:05 PM

# merriongate

No decision yet on Katherine Zappone replacement - Coveney

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

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Aug 16th 2021, 5:57 PM

# Freedom of Expression

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

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

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Aug 5th 2021, 4:38 PM

# Vice Admiral Mark Mellett

Outgoing head of Defence Forces says Government cuts to military have caused 'frustration'

Vice Admiral Mark Mellett is set to retire in the coming months from his role as Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.

In a wide-ranging interview Mellett spoke at length about funding difficulties.

He also believes that the future of defence lies in a combination of cyber and traditional roles.

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Aug 1st 2021, 12:05 AM

# Freedom of Expression

Fianna Fáil Senator says Zappone should turn down UN special envoy offer

The former minister is to be made a UN envoy.

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Jul 30th 2021, 9:30 PM

# Cabinet approval

Eamon Ryan says despite process 'misgivings', Katherine Zappone will make 'excellent' envoy

The Taoiseach would not be drawn today on whether the job was Zappone’s idea.

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Jul 29th 2021, 10:30 AM

# Katherine Zappone

Varadkar and Coveney 'accept responsibility' for oversight in appointing Zappone special envoy

Varadkar said Zappone approached Coveney about the position.

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Jul 28th 2021, 12:40 PM

# jadotville

Report into UN battle recommends medal for Jadotville commander but not for 33 other Irish troops

In 1961 a detachment of 158 Irish troops fought a force of 5,000 Katanganese troops while on UN duty in Congo.

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Jul 15th 2021, 7:33 PM