Katherine Zappone Envoy Gig

02-09-2021 10:23PM

“Hi Leo, from the Piglet [a Dublin bar]! I was expecting to hear from Simon C about my appointment as Special Envoy for Human Rights and LGBTQ+ issues. Have you heard anything? If you around next Wednesday hope to meet you.”

The My Appointment bit indicates that she thought she had the job in the bag.

I am dumbfounded that she thought it would be ok to organise a gathering of fifty people in the Merrion Hotel, it shows how out of touch she is regarding the curtain twitching that has been going on in Ireland since March 2020. The rest of us were still bringing people into our gardens by the side entrance to the house and telling our children that they couldnt bring friends to the garden for drinks for fear the neighbours would disapprove.

Its even more incredible that the Deputy Leader of this curtain twitching horrible place to live actually asked was the gathering "legal", this shws how out of touch he was with the public too.

And all the while NEPHET were going on about keeping contacts low, Philip Nolan is still going on about that this week, telling parents not to let their children mix after school and yet weeks ago the elite mingled together in the garden of the Merrion, how big is this garden by the way and how long did the gathering go on for.

blanch152 · 02-09-2021 10:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117839918#Comment_117839918

Are you seriously going to suggest that there are differences between private citizens based on their past?

02-09-2021 10:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117839959#Comment_117839959

Seems to be,one private citizen can throw leo a text there and organise a job for emselves....while this isnt an option for private citizens outside of the so called golden circle

Same as 50 years ago here,nothing ever changes

CruelSummer · 02-09-2021 10:31PM

Who cares about this? There are actually major issues out there in Ireland and the World that need addressing. Opposition trying to stop the Government doing their job at every turn with this utter nonsense. No one give two hoots it.

The Opposition seem to be allowing Leo, FG and others to occupy their every thought. The sheer amount of hashtags and abuse Leo is subject to on Twitter is ridiculous - perhaps some people are using it to channel their racist and homophobic views through other means. There doesn't seem to be the same abuse levelled at Mícheal Martin, Eamon Ryan, or other Fine Gael party members in prominent positions. From talking to people, it's doing a great job turning everyone against the Opposition, well done. Keep it up tomorrow and ruin Leaving Cert results day with another Leo hashtag and people will really turn off in droves.

MrMusician18 · 02-09-2021 10:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117839807#Comment_117839807

Thinking back on her tenure, nothing sticks out as her acting as a lightning rod for FG. Tuam and the exhumation was probably the largest controversy she was involved in.

It may well just have been reward for propping the government, or perhaps she kept the independents in line at cabinet. It could be perhaps as simple as that she was liked by both factions in FG.

We will likely never know the motivations for her bizarre appointment. Simon Harris has gotten off fairly lightly though hasn't he.

buried · 02-09-2021 10:37PM

lol

FrancieBrady · 02-09-2021 10:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117839982#Comment_117839982

The others aren't under a Garda Criminal Investigation? That the activity that leads you to that juncture is going to attract more comment than somebody whose behaviour hasn't landed them in the middle of a major and lengthy Garda Criminal investigation? And is now embroiled in another controversy?

Just a guess. 🙄

buried · 02-09-2021 10:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117839982#Comment_117839982

"Who cares about this?"

Well, Charlie Flanagan seems to care about it. Or is that Lord of the Bluebottle dynasty now suddenly up in the 'opposition' too?

CruelSummer · 02-09-2021 10:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840010#Comment_117840010

Knock yourself out - try a few more hashtags tomorrow too. People will really appreciate it.

FrancieBrady · 02-09-2021 10:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840018#Comment_117840018

So whadda ya think?

Is that the reason he attracts more comment? Or is it somebody else's fault he is where he is?

02-09-2021 10:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117839982#Comment_117839982

Wht has the Leaving Certs results day got to do with anything.

Unless you are a teacher or you have a leaving Cert student in your house then you wont give two hoots about the leaving cert.

Why cant Vradkar and Coveney just tell the truth, who created this role and how come it seems only one person was considered for it.

Why hasnt Zappone made any statement about the job and how come she was referring to it as my appointment if Simon Coveney hadnt actually got back to her about it.

When you are in trouble stop digging.

02-09-2021 10:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117839982#Comment_117839982

Surely people are allowed qs government spending and crony appointments along with continued erosion of standreds in public office?

Personally,i feel these are relatively serious issues to sort out 1st....ffg are openly laughing at electorate and treating us with contempt with their carry-on

The storys and excuse provided for a long long list of incidents now,simply arent credible and i for one,dont like being taken for a mug

MrMusician18 · 02-09-2021 10:59PM

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it's interesting that KZ chose to contact Varadkar seeking an update on the appointment, rather than texting Coveney directly.

I also note how Coveney waited a few hours to respond to Varadkar.

10000maniacs · 02-09-2021 11:09PM

The story is getting boring now. Nothing to see here. The opposition need to start focusing on real issues affecting their constituents instead of going on about "I can prove he said she said" ad verbatim.

Boring story, boring opposition. Boring media.

buried · 02-09-2021 11:15PM

Pity the government never starts focusing on real issues affecting their constituents but instead bends over backwards and makes fools of themselves for a person with nothing to show for themselves but an american accent

FrancieBrady · 02-09-2021 11:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840099#Comment_117840099

You are so bored, you came onto a thread about it?

Ok.

CruelSummer · 02-09-2021 11:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840115#Comment_117840115

They tried today with the housing plan but stupid carry on over this Zappone thing were what journalists were asking at the press conference.

Honestly, New York is flooded. Afghanistan is descending into Civil War, the Government finally makes a blueprint re housing & all the Opposition care about is Leo, Zappone and a wine bar. It almost seems like they don’t truly care about the housing crisis & are just using it to score political points. Which they’re struggling to score today - queue a few more hate hashtags Leo’s way & more Zappone nonsense.

The precedent being set by Sinn Fein in particular engaging in a hate campaign against an individual is extremely dangerous. It seems to be generating & promoting sheer hatred in people against an individual who has a high public profile.

FrancieBrady · 03-09-2021 12:01AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840221#Comment_117840221

Sure, it would have to be somebody else's fault, nothing to do with his own activity landing him in the middle of a Garda Criminal Investigation on two counts.

The Housing Plan got major coverage today, maybe it's because people weren't out saying how brilliant the government were is what is causing a bit of angst?

Muahahaha · 03-09-2021 12:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117839668#Comment_117839668

How do you know (or how did Varadkar know at the time) that the Piglet referred to a location? She said in the text "Hello from the Piglet", that can be interpreted two different ways. Given her previous of dipping the taxpayer for 80,000 in travel expenses that she wasnt entitled to would it be any surpise that she jokingly refers to herself as a piglet with her nose in the trough? Thats Leos defence right there, 'I thought she was calling herself a piglet because she is mad for the expenses'. The RTE reporter interpreted the Piglet as a nickname ascribed to herself.

We really need a statement from Zappone to clarify this Piglet business 😂

markodaly · 03-09-2021 02:13AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840221#Comment_117840221

This x1000

I love it when some journalist asks, "Are you going to resign over this incident because it's overshadowing the work of the government"

Eh, love..... it is YOU who keeps asking about it. No one, not ONE person I know personally has commented on this story. They are all delighted that the worst of covid is behind us though and are focused on being back to school, getting on with their lives as best they can after the past 18 months.

I would not be Michael Martins's biggest fan but he was dead right in taking on some of these journalists head-on and calling them out on it.

It is the Twitterisation of journalism, where the story is only hours or minutes old until something else needs to be feasted on.

Covid x Silly Season = Melodrama

alexv · 03-09-2021 07:10AM

The former Minister for Children exercising her freedom of expression:

03-09-2021 07:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840380#Comment_117840380

Is this literally not the journalists job,to ask questions of em??....you goys have lost the plot,wanting the government to go fighting journalists for doing their job.

What next a boycott?

is_that_so · 03-09-2021 08:07AM

Apart from the absolute glee in Opposition, well Labour circles, and vain efforts by the media to keep the story above the fold where does this actually go? It's not a resigning matter and Coveney really should have known better and may end up with a severe finger wagging. It's ultimately a three day story that has dragged on for weeks after anybody cared about it.

TheValeyard · 03-09-2021 08:09AM

Can someone explain this Piglet sh1te to me? Does she fall herself Piglet or is this some pet name she has or some sort of deep undercover secret agent name. It's all strange.

FrancieBrady · 03-09-2021 08:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840550#Comment_117840550

I just hope it runs and runs because it is doing reputational damage and the longer that goes on the more likely the chaos of the power merger will be remembered in the ballot box. I don't think Coveney will resign, he should, but he won't. Relations will be fruity at the top in FG for the rest of the term I'd imagine.

is_that_so · 03-09-2021 08:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840564#Comment_117840564

It'll limp along but voters generally don't reach that level of complex thought when the vote - it's their views on big ticket items, economy, health and housing. As for the reputational stuff, was Coveney ever really a possibility for the top chair? Sure he's well-liked within the party and briefly competed for leadership but he seems to have settled for a secondary role and was previously seen as a safe pair of hands. This will make no difference to his seat and he'll he shuffled around in just over 12 months' time.

FrancieBrady · 03-09-2021 08:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840579#Comment_117840579

The 'damage' adds up.

I said Leo would lead FG back to GE levels of support and I think by the time we get there (to a GE) he will pull it off.

Coveney was elected leader by the membership of FG.

FG, through their own version of democracy, have a system that denies the memberships choice if the party elders/backer don't agree.

BTW, 'limps' is a curious definition, given it has dominated the news cycles several times now and even after that dies down a bit, Coveney has to embarrassingly go back to the FAC to 'explain' some more, PAC have to have a look at the actual appointment process.

Plenty left in this yet.

titan18 · 03-09-2021 09:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840550#Comment_117840550

Tbf, it's dragging on cos they're continuing to lie about and then being caught out in their lies.

McMurphy · 03-09-2021 09:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117839959#Comment_117839959

No, I'm actually comparing "GDPR" and that of a private citizens passport application, and what appears to be lobbying of the current Tánaiste, for a government appointed role, therefore making it subject to Freedom of information.

Katherine's name was already publicly linked with this role. There's no comparison with a private citizens passport application FFS, you know that, I know that, but you'll double down and obfuscate rather than admit the whole GDPR thing you threw out was a brainfart.

If Katherine makes a statement, stating she did not consent to Leo releasing her texts - do you think Leo should resign or be prosecuted? You've been asked this on numerous occasions now and not yet answered btw.

is_that_so · 03-09-2021 09:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840675#Comment_117840675

It strikes me as another drama that nobody outside of politics and some sectors of the media has any interest in. It's almost as if the media were desperate to find a non-COVD story to run with. The minister made a complete balls of the nomination of a person who was probably perfectly suited to the job are the facts. That she chose to decline that job is the saving grace in it. There's not much more to it than that and TBH a combination of committees and the Dail itself should address this.

Katherine Zappone Envoy Gig

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