Sinn Féin Has Tabled A Motion Of No Confidence In Simon Coveney

Friday, 10 September 2021 09:14

The motion, Minister Coveney failed to explain the handling of this Katherine Zappone's UN appointment in a credible manner.

Sinn Fein will table of motion of no confidence in Simon Coveney.

It follows the Katherine Zappone controversy.

Ben Finnegan reports:

"The Dáil returns after its summer recess on Wednesday, with one of its first pieces of business to deal with a motion of no confidence in Simon Coveney.

It follows the failed appointment of Katherine Zappone to a UN Special Envoy role, with the party saying it wasn't done in a tranparent process, and amounted to cronyism, while also falling below the standard expected of Government.

The motion, which will be filed this morning says Minister Coveney failed to explain the handling of this appointment in a credible manner.

Sinn Fein had said it wouldn't table the motion if the Foreign Affairs Minister if he was sanctioned by the Taoiseach, however they feel that hasn't happened.

At the Fianna Fáil think-in in Cavan, Taoiseach Micheal Martin expressed confidence in Minister Coveney - who is in New York chairing a meeting of the UN Security Council. "

Micheál Martin: Fianna Fáil will oppose no-confidence motion in Simon Coveney https://t.co/NlR3fMGeTK
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) September 10, 2021

Taoiseach Michéal Martin says there needs to be perspective on the issue

Cronyism is their hallmark - No lessons have been learned by @simoncoveney or ayone else in Govt. The Taoiseach's attachment to and tolerance of old style naked cronyism leaves us with no option but to move a no confidence motion in his minister.
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) September 10, 2021

The Taoiseach says sacking Simon Coveney is not a proportionate response to the Zappone controversy.

Kacey O'Riordan reports from Fianna Fail's think-in in Cavan

The Tánaiste says the no-confidence motion is 'a stunt' and Sinn Féin's playing politics with the issue.

Leo Varadkar says they're throwing mud in the hope some of it sticks.

He says Sinn Féin has a 'warped' sense of priority by using their Dáil time on this issue, in its first week back after the summer break.

He says the Foreign Affairs Minister has apologised and given an extensive account of the Katherine Zappone situation.

While a Kildare South Fine Gael TD says he isn't surprised by the Sinn Féin motion of no confidence in Simon coveney.

Junior Minister Martin Heydon, says it's 'chilling' that Sinn Fein won't accept the word of a former senior civil servant who backed Coveney's explanation

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