Katherine Zappone Envoy Gig

Dempo1 · 30-07-2021 7:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117684341#Comment_117684341

I'm afraid that link your referring too dates back to 2018, irish times to be precise, no point in me adding link, as nothing to do with current discussion, thread

elefant · 30-07-2021 7:28pm

That was great radio - hilarious stuff.

If MM had any balls he'd have pulled the plug immediately on it. Now it's too late and they all look like crooks and/or clowns.

Tell me how · 30-07-2021 7:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117684369#Comment_117684369

Suggesting a previous news item has nothing to do with a thread about the same person being appointed as a 'Freedom of expression' envoy in an underhand manner seems in keeping with the shambles around the whole thing at every level.

Dempo1 · 30-07-2021 7:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117684485#Comment_117684485

Did you actually read the post in question before your questioning the need to add a link dating back to 2018 that has nothing to do with this thread? The poster somehow linked the newspaper article to this threads discussion and all I did was point out they we're mistaken, I had no intention on hiding anything, I only wished not to add a link that has Zero to do with the thread, it's called being off Topic.

Clearly you've not read my own posts on this matter. The link in question surrounds quite a sensitive other matter relating to the former minister in her role as a former minister.

For the record, I've formed no opinions on Katherine Zappone the person or former minister, indeed I've absolutely no opinion on her as a person, I do however have an opinion on this Bizzare Debacle dealt with in this thread and am focused on that alone.

elefant · 30-07-2021 7:55pm

Can anyone confirm if Zappone is actually a lawyer, as Coveney mentioned in explaining why she was so overwhelmingly qualified that nobody else was considered?

I don't see any legal qualifications noted on her website.

expectationlost · 30-07-2021 7:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117684550#Comment_117684550

you'll have to transcribe the part of the interview where he said that first, heres the audio file https://ift.tt/3BZplRO

elefant · 30-07-2021 8:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117684557#Comment_117684557

Eh, ok.

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/news-at-one/programmes/2021/0730/1238238-news-at-one-friday-30-july-2021/

From 35:37

'Is anybody seriously questioning Katherine Zappone's suitability for this job? In all of the criticism I've heard in the last couple of days nobody has questioned whether Katherine Zappone is suitable to advocate, with the department of foreign affairs, in areas of freedom of expression. I mean, she's a lawyer, she's a former politician...'

Yurt2 · 30-07-2021 8:11pm

He also let slip there was a special envoy appointed to West Africa. Fair enough, and it sounds like a specialist role (but then again, we have a not insignificant diplomatic presence in the region anyway). Don't know who that individual was/is, but was there a transparent process for that appointment also? This all seems a rather willy nilly way to recruit and deploy diplomatic officials.

FrancieBrady · 30-07-2021 8:47pm

Sums up Coveney's contribution.

Dr Harold News on Twitter: "BREAKING: Simon Coveney hospitalised after car-crash interview. https://t.co/ioY7IjnRh4" / Twitter

FoFo1254122 · 30-07-2021 8:49pm

its the arrogance I find unreal. She could have easily got this job without the fan fare and no one would be the wiser.

for example hired through a charity but funded through the state. This is a very common practice in Ireland.

it actually looks more and more like a bribe of some type.

Dempo1 · 31-07-2021 6:37am

Isn't it curious so many FG stalwarts anxious to meet up with Katherine, Days before this appointment was made? Coincidence? Convenient? Cosy?

After Coveney's train crash interview, Timmy Doolys interventions yesterday, which was another train crash in reverse, increasing number of government TD'S expressing disquiet, FG probably praying for a quiter weekend (wishful thinking I suspect)

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/tanaiste-attended-zappone-event-days-before-special-envoy-appointment-announced-40706214.html

Lovely Picture for Leo to frame 😁

rolling boh · 31-07-2021 4:06pm

think fg are looking at the polls and feel ff are doomed so they can treat ff anyway they want for Coveney to just tell his own party the news shows no regard for his supposed partners in government.

Yurt2 · 31-07-2021 5:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117684550#Comment_117684550

She's not. Coveney plucked that one out of the air for some reason. Zappone has plenty of bits of paper in theology and an MBA from UCD, but a lawyer she is not.

Dempo1 · 31-07-2021 5:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117687630#Comment_117687630

Don't forget her PhD, crucial for this appointment 🙄

Muahahaha · 31-07-2021 5:19pm

For someone who wants to be a UN Special Envoy on Freedom of Expression Katherine Zappone has been remarkably silent in exercising her own freedom of expression

zimmermania · 31-07-2021 7:26pm

Coveney is a total chancer,if FF pulled a stroke like this in the past he wou li d have been up in arms over it.

Coveney shou loom d resign or be sacked for this cynical stunt and Zappone should step out before she steps in.

The public must keep the pressure up and make certain the blatant attempt at cronyism does not succeed.

Muahahaha · 31-07-2021 8:26pm

Daniel McConnell in the Irish Examiner not holding back anyway

It emerged quickly that Taoiseach Micheál Martin was not informed in advance of the proposed appointment. It turns out that Fine Gael ministers were in the loop ahead of Cabinet, but their Coalition colleagues were not, an admission which will do little to dispel the idea that this was a political stroke, particularly given, as Coveney admitted, he and his officials were considering this for months.

Coveney’s description of it being a “communications error” would be more tolerable and acceptable if it did not come in the wake of the shameless manner of the Séamus Woulfe appointment a year ago. That was a stroke of audacious proportions and Zappone’s appointment to this gig has some similarities.

Coveney got extraordinarily prickly on radio with RTÉ’s Bryan Dobson yesterday when pressed about the lack of an open competition, suggesting that any questioning of Zappone was not appropriate. He said the “genuine mistake” was not telling the Taoiseach — but, in truth, the genuine mistake was the entire process.

Because, unlike many others, I would argue that Zappone’s record in government is not so stellar and we, as the paymasters, would have benefited from expressions of interest from other quarters. A rather shameful attempt has repeatedly been made by Fine Gael to dismiss such concerns on the basis that it is a relatively small amount of money involved. The party’s TD for Dublin Mid-West, Emer Higgins, said on Virgin Media on Tuesday that people were “making a mountain out of a molehill”.

The following morning on radio, her party leader, Leo Varadkar, sought to follow suit and say the Cabinet was dealing with far more important matters and that the money is paltry. The problem about all of this is one of complacency. It tends to happen when you are 10 years in office.Fine Gael has always had a problem with losing touch when in government and this is merely the latest example. It also seems to have a disturbing habit of seeking to reward political failure.

Look to James Reilly, who was reappointed deputy leader even after losing his Dáil seat in 2016 and had to be appointed to the Seanad.

Look at Jerry Buttimer, who was made leader of the Seanad having lost his Dáil seat in 2016.

Look at Regina Doherty, who succeeded him having lost her seat in 2020.

The rewarding of Zappone, another political failure, is yet another self-inflicted own goal by Fine Gael which has handed yet another stick to Sinn Féin and other opposition parties with which to beat it.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-40349402.html

mariab21 · 31-07-2021 11:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117688563#Comment_117688563

The usual suspects on here are very quiet this weekend.

Monday will be fun

Mervyn Skidmore · 31-07-2021 11:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117688563#Comment_117688563

It's no secret that the Seanad is the spot for failed politicians. We had the opportunity to abolish it recently and we sh*t the bed so we deserve what we get. The thing that gets me with this Zappone thing is the sheer entitlement, Coveney was perplexed with the idea that an open transparent competition might have been run for the position.

FrancieBrady · 31-07-2021 11:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117689098#Comment_117689098

One would think there was a problem with 'freedom of expression' here in Ireland as Katherine herself hasn't been heard of. 😎

Darc19 · 01-08-2021 12:03am

After tax, the net pay for this is about €8k a year.

That's about 80% less cost than Aongus OSnodaigh's ink cartridge bill back in 2012.

FrancieBrady · 01-08-2021 12:19am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117689240#Comment_117689240

Very few that have issue with this are worried about the money aspect. Do try to listen to the concerns.

touts · 01-08-2021 12:38am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117689240#Comment_117689240

It's Katherine Zappone. She doesn't do it for the salary. She does it for the expenses and the lifestyle a role gives her. She managed to claim hefty travel expenses for the walk from her home to the Dail. What do you think she will do with a 4000km commute for meetings.

She certainly won't be embracing zoom unless she needs a new MacBook pro. She won't be getting the shuttle bus to the airport when there is a limo service that gets her there faster. She won't be flying economy when a first class seat makes sure she is refreshed for meetings. She won't be eating in McDonalds at the airport when she the quite time of a Michelen Star standard restaurant allows her reflect on the work to be done. She won't be dressing in outfits from Dunnes when she "represents" the country at important meetings.

€8k in the pocket is the cherry on top of the lifestyle we'll be keeping her in.

mariab21 · 01-08-2021 12:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117689240#Comment_117689240

Nobody cares how much the made up roll pays really. Its how they went about it

Fine Gael running rings around Fine Fail and they don't have the balls to disagree, as for the Greens

elefant · 01-08-2021 1:24am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117684557#Comment_117684557

Any further thoughts, after the transcription? No?

mariab21 · 01-08-2021 1:29am

So was Leo lying saying she approached Simon true or Simon saying he approached her true, whos lying?

And is Simon Harris the man leaking it all to the media?

FG in more crisis than FF

Yurt2 · 01-08-2021 1:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117689309#Comment_117689309

This is the long and the short of it. It also speaks volumes that Simon couldn't wrap his head around the idea that they could unearth a more appropriate individual for the role via a competitive process. A particular head-scratcher was in speaking of defence of her credentials, he assigned her an occupation that she never held and was never qualified for - that of lawyer. He doesn't even know her own biography, just that she's part of the circle and should be bunged a job no questions asked.

Suckit · 01-08-2021 2:08am

Just a reminder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117689362#Comment_117689362

Not in any way defending any other political party, but this is the new and improved Fine Gael, with younger politicians and modern thinking..

I think they jumped the gun. A perfect example of Leo Getzzz... I don't think the rest of them will thank him in a year to come.

01-08-2021 2:25am

Dont disagree with a word McConnell wrote

Awarding gigs like this without any process is totally against the ethos of the actual public service and definitely signs of a govt that feel they answer to nobody.

Poor form and awful optics

Dempo1 · 01-08-2021 8:16am

Hmmm, the Indo reporting Leo not happy about recent leaks (The Irony of It 😂)

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/minister-rumbled-in-extraordinary-leak-ruse-over-katherine-zappone-job-fury-40708099.html

Katherine Zappone Envoy Gig

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