Katherine Zappone Envoy Gig

All I can say is that you are easily impressed. He "ummmed", "awwwed" and stumbled his way through Gannon's questions. Completely incapable of standing up to scrutiny.

Edit: He also allowed Lawless to walk him over the edge of a cliff.

It's ridiculous that they are all not in the same room..or that Coveney is not there physically. Makes it all very disjointed and favours the Minister IMO.

No sucker punches yet but he's not really answering questions, more of a rambling story telling exercise.

Everyone thinks the sequence of events are Beggar's Belief, except Coveney it seems 🤔

Coveney keeps saying he doesn't consider it lobbying because he never felt pressured by Zappone to appoint her to a role. That doesn't mean it's not lobbying. The fact they're friends and former colleagues means they weren't trying to appoint her through any kind of pressure, but through their existing friendly relationship. It's still lobbying.

So a Government Minister seems to be in Breach of the FOI act, Certainly Questions regarding Lobbying not clarified and this Messaging App, Telegram ( is that not encrypted like WhatsApp 🤔), I seem to recall this app was notorious and best avoided , also why were other ministers using Signal. Coveney actually admitted earlier his message to Zappone was through WhatsApp 🤔.

Coveney has stated the phone was actually supplied by the Department. Coveney sticking to the fact he was not obligated to retain data, very very odd and certainly questionable.

This 'grouped' questioning is absurd.

It's just Bizzare, I've listened intently to the entire meeting.

If I were to sum it up

Everyone and I mean Everyone is Wrong

And Simon thinks he's right 🙄

I can almost predict what the Governments response to this performance.

Nothing to see here 🙄

That's the way the cookie crumbles, there's share of committee chairs between parties. With a coalition, the split a little more complicated, I'm guessing government parties do get a pick of the plum positions.

Don't think it's going away after that.

And that is that.....

The opposition looked dejected at the end. They know this is now a dead story. There will be the odd story about it tomorrow in the papers but really its over now. It will be wrapping fish and chips by Thursday and everyone will have moved on.

In fairness, Charlie chaired it properly, bar that stupid 'grouped question' idea and restrictive time limits.

Coveney again seems very confused. Is his phone compromised or what?