# Zapponegate

Last week

28th May 2023 - 3rd June 2023

Missing Mails: Wiping of ministers’ texts and emails to be addressed with new policies

A report by

Eimer McAuley

Controversies over deletion of texts occurred in recent years, with new investigation revealing this practice is widespread among European leaders.

Investigative project #MissingMails reveals multiple scandals across European governments and institutions

As part of this, The Journal and Noteworthy examine Irish State practices following 'ZapponeGate'

Retention policies currently vary from department to department

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Fri 12:05 AM

All time

# Secretary General

Top civil servant declines to answer questions about Cabinet leaks during 'mischievous' committee

The Secretary General at the Department of An Taoiseach was appearing before an Oireachtas Committee.

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Sep 29th 2021, 7:37 PM

# Katherine Zappone

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

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

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Sep 21st 2021, 12:26 PM

# Zapponegate

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

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

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Sep 20th 2021, 8:40 PM

# Zapponegate

Minister Simon Coveney wins confidence vote in the Dáil by 92 votes to 59

Sinn Féin tabled a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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Sep 15th 2021, 10:20 PM

# No Confidence

Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry resigns party whip and will vote against Simon Coveney in confidence motion

The debate on the confidence motion is scheduled for this evening.

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Sep 15th 2021, 5:32 PM

# rolling controversy

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

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

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Sep 15th 2021, 2:28 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

# 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

# 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

# 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

# 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

# Disagreed

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

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

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Sep 2nd 2021, 7:10 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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Updated

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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Updated

Aug 31st 2021, 6:07 PM