Katherine Zappone Envoy Gig

The fun thing here is that if the FOI request had been fulfilled properly the journalists in question probably wouldn't have reported on them because there's so little in them.

They might use them for, "Varadkar blindsided by Zappone appointment", but nothing else.

The FOI person got no longer works at the department.

Did he lie? Or are you just throwing around accusations?

So someone was moved from their job just over a month ago and happened to be involved in this? That's another tall tale it seems. That and the deleting text messages to prevent hacking is doing nothing for FG credibility. More questions to be answered.

@seamus

How is it no real harm, it completely destroys the integrity of the FOI system if someone asks for data that exists and doesnt receive it. What are journalists supposed to do now, state in every single FOI request that if the person who holds the data (Varadkar in this case) is away on holidays then please wait for them to return before processing the data request? That would be absolutely absurd. What is even more absurd is that we now know that any Minister on the end of a FOI request that they dont want made public can use the excuse that they were "on holidays".

Fine Gael hate transparency because transparency like FOI helps journalists to reveal their crony schemes in government. Journalists already had a strong suspicion that the FOI system is designed to fail and this latest episode shows their suspicions are very well grounded. Awkward FOI request? Oh they're on holidays, lovely jubbly, just send a letter saying we looked for the info but couldnt find it.

I find it interesting as well that Varadkar was so quick off the mark to release these text messages to prove his innocence in relation to the Merrion event. He didnt release any text messages to prove his innocence in the leaking of confidential government documents to his friend (not friend) Dr Zero Craic, funny that.

FG's credibility is in the doldrums. They can't be trusted to put the cat out. Everything they have done since the beginning of this government has turned to crap.

I don't think Varadkar has that much to answer.

Coveney definitely does. Deleting messages. The hacking of his phone, did he report it? He has held positions like minister of defence and foreign minister. This is a serious issue. Unless it didn't happen at all.

The appointment of somebody into the UN specifically on LGBT issues at a time when there were issues in regards to Hungary and Poland. She most definitely wasn't getting that job to have a pop at Saudi Arabia or Iran. They were appointing somebody to go to the UN to have digs at countries within the EU.

I'm assuming here that the Minister/Tanaiste is responsible for anything his department or Fine Gael puts out on his behalf. Particularly in relation to things only he can know himself.

His department issued a statement saying that he didn't know about the appointment until 27th

We now know that is a lie/untrue/a fudge/porky/misdirection etc etc or whatever you want to call it.

Or because her appointment to that UN job turned out to be a piglet in a poke for all concerned

(not a full-grown pig because not such a big deal at the end of the day)

Leo Varadkar will still be Tánaiste and Simon Coveney still Minister for FA and Defence in this Government come the turn of the year, because a) this is the greatest load of overblown nonsense of silly season and b) none of FG, FF or the Greens can afford, politically or financially, a general election before the mandatory date of early 2025.

What a convoluted conspiracy you weave.

Zappone asks Varadkar about whether he knows anything about an appointment as envoy, says no, then asks the relevant minister about it, and you seem to think that it is all pretence because they knew about it already!!!!!

According to the article, Fine Gael made this statement on his behalf. They couldn't make that statement truthfully without consulting Varadkar about what he knew. Either Varadkar lied to FG or FG lied in their statement. I presume the IT is not lying about it.

I'm sure that all political parties are great fans of a strict enforcement of FOI rules when they are in opposition, and are hostile to FOI a lot of the time when they are in Government. That's just human nature, it's not purely an FG thing.

It reminds me of the huge faux outrage by US Republicans about Hillary Clinton ("The e-mails, the e-mails!"). Could the opposition concentrate on policies, whether developing their own, or on proper critical analysis of the Government?

So you seem to want this discussion to be left to those who think there is something dreadfully serious going on? Do you feel better if those who don't agree with you just p*ss off, and you are left in your own echo chamber of outrage?