Sir, – The current issue over the Katherine Zappone appointment to the role of UN special envoy must rank as the worst self-inflicted wound of the present coalition Government’s time in power (“Varadkar apologises for failure to release texts as Zappone controversy continues”, September 2nd).
Certainly, an element of cronyism was involved in Zappone’s appointment: no other candidate appears to have been considered and senior members of Fine Gael obviously have a warm personal relationship with her.
However, the advocacy position in question was paid a relatively insignificant stipend and, clearly, she was ideally suited to it. In this context, when the story first broke, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney should have immediately held his hands up about the lack of best practice in making an official appointment, and promised not to do it again.
If the ongoing controversy ends up with Coveney – or even Tánaiste Leo Varadkar – losing his job, then, rarely, if ever, will so silly a mistake have had such significant consequences in Irish public life. – Yours, etc,
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JOE McCARTHY,
Arbour Hill, Dublin 7.
A chara, – It’s front page news. This month, as Ireland assumes the chairmanship of the UN Security Council, the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs is focused on uncovering the inconsistencies in how a person who declined a UN role was offered the role.
Is this a local row over how many inconsistencies can dance on a pinhead? – Is mise,
DERMOT O’ROURKE,
Lucan, Co Dublin.
A chara, – Barry Cowen TD, in another episode of his year-long whinge about being sacked from Cabinet, suggests that his demotion was because “the issue was getting in the way of Government business” (Home News, September 2rd), and uses the latest twists in the Zappone controversy to get another dig in at the Taoiseach.
My clear recollection is that at the time, Cowen had serious questions to answer about drink-driving allegations but he refused point blank to be questioned by his Oireachtas peers about the matter.
That this stubbornness, which led to his downfall, is still not acknowledged or understood by him perhaps suggests he might have a way to go before attaining high office again.
– Is mise,
DAVID CARROLL,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – In response to Barry Cowen TD’s comments in relation to Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney: One showed total disdain for basic laws of the land in relation to drink driving and the requirement for a valid driving licence.
The other, a very high-performing Minister, is indeed guilty of very sloppy practices in relation to a minor appointment occurring at an incredibly busy time for a Government that has had to deal with unprecedented demands.
Please, can we have some grown-up perspective here and move on from this, starting with the more pressing issues of housing and the climate crisis.
– Yours, etc,
CLAIRE O’MALLEY,
Dublin 2.
A chara, – The more we hear about the Zappone affair the more it appears that the Taoiseach stood idly by as his Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs left him in the dark on the filling of an important, and not a makey-up, diplomatic post.
And he again stood idly by as a Minister in his cabinet – right under his nose, it seems – leaked details of the affair to the media.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the issue, we are left with the impression of a lame duck Taoiseach surrounded by cock of the walk Fine Gael Ministers. – Is mise,
JOHN GLENNON,
Hollywood,
Co Wicklow.