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# Zapponegate

Last week
28th May 2023 - 3rd June 2023
THE MORNING LEAD
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
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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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”.
# 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.
# Zapponegate
Taoiseach 'has confidence' in Simon Coveney, says spokesperson
His comment comes after Mary Lou McDonald said today that Simon Coveney cannot stay on.
# 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
'A crisis in FOI': How Zapponegate highlighted crucial flaws in Ireland's transparency legislation
Zapponegate: Ex-Minister texted Coveney to say thanks for 'incredible opportunity' in March
# 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.
Zapponegate: Ex-Minister texted Coveney to say thanks for 'incredible opportunity' in March
Explainer: Why are people still talking about the Zappone/Coveney/Varadkar controversy?
# 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.
Taoiseach must 'stamp his authority' and put an end to Zappone row, Fianna Fáil TD says
Explainer: Why are people still talking about the Zappone/Coveney/Varadkar controversy?
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.