Katherine Zappone Envoy Gig

Yurt2

What in the blue blazes is going on with this sinecure?

https://www.thejournal.ie/donohoe-zappone-un-special-envoy-5507239-Jul2021/

First off, we have a very capable and professional diplomatic service that someone could step into this job if it is a foreign policy priority. The remit of this is so wishy-washy as well - Special Envoy for Freedom of Speech? Are we being serious here? What's she going to do day-to-day? Wag her finger at the Chinese Ambassador to the UN?

Secondly, Zappone took off to the US as soon as she lost her seat. She's no longer resident in Ireland, and she pops up again to take a job that was blatantly carved out for her and wasn't advertised.

Special envoy my backside. Coming to a Michelin Star restaurant near the East River soon...

Galwayguy35

Its a big title for a made up job.

crooked cockney villain

Freedom of Speech?

Zappone was front and centre of the "don't mention the jihad" media campaign concerning what Ibrahim Halawa wasn't and was doing/ involved with when he got arrested in Egypt. Freedom of speech my hole.

I wasn't aware that she had returned to the US. Given her leftist credentials I presume she temporarily gave her home to her local council/ AHB to rent to a family at an affordable rate rather than taking 2500 per month for it on the private market.

Yurt2

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40346897.html?type=amp

Whoopsie daisy doodles, the Teesh and many even in FG don't like this one bit. I have my suspicions on whose bright idea this was, but won't speculate further.

Dempo1

Words escape me, what is going on here, the Title of the position kind of says it all, I see reports the Taoiseach was blind sided by the proposed appointment and internal rifts within FG stirring over this bizzare decision.

I've no personal dislike of the lady but is Simon Coveney loosing the plot, the Greens typically tight lipped and devoid of an opinion that might upset the cosy coalition.

The country on its knee's and Coveney appoints a person with Zero diplomatic skills to a makey up and bizzare position at the UN, it's Just extraordinary.

Yurt2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117670659#Comment_117670659

Don't think it was Coveney's idea. He ultimately rubber-stamped it so he has to carry the can, but it didn't come from him.

Who exactly is running this circus and rubber stamping this?

Mickeal martin is claiming he didnt know,she was being appointed......if true,looks like someone tried sneak a handy job for a mate in during all the newscycle/hype about pubs reopening,

hotmail.com

This is the kind of thing FG used to criticise FF for.

I can see FF getting mileage out of this.

What an own goal.

Made up Job.

L1011

Very dodgy. Wonder if was even a politicians idea or a suggestion (that should have failed an obvious "does this look dodgy" test) from someone within a Department, maybe worked with her in the previous Government.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117670666#Comment_117670666

There seems to be confusion, deliberate or otherwise about this appointment and who sanctioned it so I stand corrected, was just assuming it was Coveney's decision. I see Pascal was sent out to justify it (Badly), normally he's quite clever in avoiding taking blame for silly decisions. Still the whole affair is beyond comprehension.

Tell me how

Aside from the shenanigans going on with such a role being created and apparently awarded to someone without advertisement, interview or due process, this event shows the drop off in traffic on this site over the last few weeks.

Even a month ago, this news would probably have had 200+ posts on the first day it emerged, more if it broke in the morning and here we are with less than ten posts at least 8 hours after it first broke.

On the topic itself, it is such an own goal, I suspect it is like what the Government in the UK did last week in releasing various pieces of 'unpleasant' news before heading off on summer holiday. When is the Dail shutting down for the summer? This week is it? They're probably hoping it will have died off by the time they come back in September.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117670798#Comment_117670798

Two weeks ago. Not back til September.

What is the salary for said made up role?

mikethecop

free money for another criminally incompetent Irish politician , nothing new there , i wish it was

when i think about where some of my tax goes it makes me very uncomfortable

dudley72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117670811#Comment_117670811

It's in the article, 13-15k before tax, so more like 6-8k per year

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672011#Comment_117672011

But think of the expenses!

TheValeyard

Its a silly title for a made up job.

dudley72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672273#Comment_117672273

Expenses are not wages, so for the job the wage is 8k max

silverharp

Crony virus

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672361#Comment_117672361

I know that.....no doubt she will find the longest route around to maximise her expenses....

She got approx 16k extra at least tax free previously for travel and expenses....despite being 22km (not 25km) from Leinster house

Mike Murdock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117670524#Comment_117670524

She moved back to Seattle and helped on the Biden campaign. Think she splits her time between there and New York now.

Imagine the expenses now...

dudley72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672602#Comment_117672602

That's a problem across the boards not just with TD's but with councillors. A number of TD's done the same during the pandemic while living in Dublin and not travelling to the Dail at all.

Really they need to implement a proper system to resolve the issues as it seems not just TD's are on the payroll but entire families are been paid with our tax money

In this situation we can only comment on the wages which she can get.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672665#Comment_117672665

You can just comment on her wages if you like...but I can comment on the rest if I want.

It sounds like a pointless role...and though the wages are small, the expenses won't be is my point

dudley72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672731#Comment_117672731

Of course you can discuss them but expenses are just to cover her costs, they are not in place to make a profit.

The wages for the role itself are 13-15k before tax. Based on the description released of the role so far it does sound pointless.

whisky_galore

Might as well be Special Envoy for Unicorn shyte.

This only gets better🤣🤣

https://mobile.twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1420339716210274308

SEPT 23 1989

do you peasants really expect her to work on the tills in Dunnes?

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672781#Comment_117672781

Come on now....you and I both know her expenses are for more than just to "cover her costs"....let's not play silly games on this. You already admitted that the system is being exploited, and she has done so in the past and will do so again imo

dudley72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117673011#Comment_117673011

Exactly, in your opinion. You are not only accusing but convicting someone of expenses abuse and they haven't even started the job.

I am sure plenty of politicians don't see the expenses system as an extra wage, I am also sure plenty see it as that. The government should introduce a system to stop it.

dudley72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672937#Comment_117672937

The average wage in Dunnes Stores according to Glassdoor is 28k, according to pay-scale it is 35k. She isn't even earning half of that in this role.

As I posted, the description of the role would suggest it is pointless but at least post something relevant

listermint

No skin in the game but tbh to vilify someone for returning to their home country after the loss of their partner of 30 plus years. Perhaps they wanted to go be with family and see if they could start a new life.

The job I know nothing of but it standard fare at this point for ex politicians to thread paths into representative areas like the UN.

Pintman Paddy Losty

Really positive move and will allow Ireland to lead in the field of freedom of expression giving a voice to those without one.

Can't think of a better candidate than Katherine, with all the work she has done in both the Marriage Equality and Repeal the 8th referendums.

The fact that she is now based in the US means we don't have to send one of our civil servants abroad needlessly. Great bargain at 15k too. Personally I wouldn't scratch myself for that money.

expectationlost

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117673284#Comment_117673284

who does she want to lecture on human rights on behalf of Ireland?

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

 Matthew 7:1–5 KJV

rightmove

apparently its a a special taxpayer-funded role.. you couldnt make this stuff up ....oh sorry she did... lord save us....honestly

Shebean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117673284#Comment_117673284

In what way? What will she be doing on our behalf?

I find it odd that the very government responsible for blocking information on the Mother and Baby homes while overseeing a whitewash sham report created such a position, even if Zappone asked for it.

As regards the quality of "candidate", we'll never know when people are gifted a position in a vacuum.

Let's hope she doesn't take the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael lead of claiming fraudulent travel expenses.

Pintman Paddy Losty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117673747#Comment_117673747

Why you quoting Bible verses at me bro?

dudley72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117674171#Comment_117674171

All parties and independents have an issue with expenses.

The problem is it's just an out of the blue appointment without any obvious process for selection other than at the whim of a minister. We've too many non-processes like this. There should be a reasonable, and efficient, way of going through candidate selection. At the very least it should have been a created post, then put out for anyone to apply.

She may be eminently experienced and qualified for the role, I'm not arguing that, but the process is flawed, or rather there isn't a process at all.

Shebean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117674191#Comment_117674191

So FF and FG councillors didn't charge for two different all day seminars on the same day in different parts of the country? Otherwise I don't get your point.

Zappone will be the only one able to charge international flights I'd imagine, but you never know.

AllGunsBlazing

Calculated move on the part of Varadkar/Coveney to make Martin look weak. And it's worked.

rightmove

I'd love to make up a job for myself in a country I dont live in and be appointed to it and paid for it.

now I will wake up and go to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sure she will find a roundabout way to get to the job also

c.p.w.g.w

FFG & Greens seem to be doing everything possible to give SF a majority in the next GE

HerrKapitan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117670524#Comment_117670524

The job title doesn't reference supporting or being anti freedom of speech.

dudley72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117674210#Comment_117674210

My point is all parties and independents have problems with dodgy expenses. As I already posted on this thread the government needs to introduce a proper expenses tool to stop dodgy expenses.

No idea what your point is on international flights? I expect all TD's can fly on international flights, why wouldn't they?

Gatling

All of this for a role for around €20 ph ,she previously did a decent enough job as minister and thousands of women owe there jobs to her and her partner getting back to education and the workplace when others just ignored them in tallaght and further afield

Yurt2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117674199#Comment_117674199

Journalists will be busy filing FOIs on this appointment. The approaches from Zappone and the case made for the appointment will be of great interest. That is of course if there is a paper/email trail - which would be of further embarassment if there wasn't.

Shebean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117674258#Comment_117674258

So not related to the thread, just an aside.

If they are fiddling, as they are prone to do in FF/FG, flights would really hit the pocket as compared to petrol money up to Donegal etc.

Shebean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117674217#Comment_117674217

While it makes Martin look an ass, I think it further damages Varadkar's reputation as a law unto himself with a disregard for accountability and not being a team player.

expectationlost

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117674175#Comment_117674175

she has a doctorate in theology

dudley72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117674304#Comment_117674304

Dodgy expenses are dodgy expenses. Doesn't matter if it is 5 euro or 5000 euro.

VinLieger

Considering her shambolic stint as minister for children i think its absurd she is being rewarded in this way.