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Eamon Ryan says despite process 'misgivings', Katherine Zappone will make 'excellent' envoy

The Taoiseach would not be drawn today on whether the job was Zappone’s idea.

MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT Eamon Ryan has said that despite “misgivings” with the way former minister Katherine Zappone was appointed as UN special envoy on freedom of opinion and expression, that she will make an “excellent” envoy.

Zappone was appointed to the role on Tuesday without it being publicly advertised, and is is set to earn €13,000-€15,000 before tax, as the salary is on a pro-rata basis.

Minister Ryan told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today that the job was “a part-time position”, and is “backing up work she’s already doing”

When asked if he was happy with the way Zappone was appointed, he said: “I don’t think anyone was happy, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs himself admitted that in hindsight he would have announced that differently.”

When asked why he approved the appointment at Cabinet on Wednesday if he wasn’t happy with the process, Ryan said: “Because I’ve also experience of Katherine Zappone … it’s near where she has real expertise, where she’s shown over many years to be an absolute leader here.”

When asked whether he voiced concerns about how she was appointed at Cabinet, Ryan said he “can’t” discuss what happens at Cabinet, due to constitutional confidentiality.

Ryan said that he has expressed his misgivings about the process to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, but added:

What we agreed on, despite those misgivings on process, that actually Katherine Zappone – in the work that has been done here – is a very good candidate, and will be an excellent envoy.

Ministers have been busy defending the appointment of former Minister for Children Katherine Zappone to the position of UN special envoy on freedom of opinion and expression – doing work on behalf of the Irish government for a two-year period.

It’s understood the role involves working 50 or 60 days a year.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin was unaware that Zappone was being put forward for the role, with her name brought to Cabinet at the last minute.

Martin is understood to have raised concerns, not at her appointment, but the procedure and manner it had happened. He ultimately approved the appointment.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney “accepted responsibility” for the “oversight of procedures” that left the Taoiseach in the dark. Martin told reporters yesterday that Coveney rang him to apologise for the oversight and that “procedurally it could have been done better”.

“We move on,” Martin added.

Speaking today at a vaccination centre in Dublin, he would not be drawn on whether the job had been Zappone’s idea in the first place, saying Coveney had made it clear that the appointment was “an emissary in the context of the United Nations”.

“He did say to me that Catherine Zappone had made a contribution to the campaign in terms of getting membership in the Security Council, and he was of the view that her contribution will be valuable in the context of the industry for freedom of expression,” he said. 

Speaking to Newstalk earlier this morning, Martin said “there’s no issue with Katherine Zappone herself: a former senior minister, a person who was a strong advocate in terms of freedom of expression, LGBT issues”.

He said that other more important issues were on the agenda for Cabinet’s meeting this week, with five or six memos brought forward.

“To me there was much bigger fish to fry in that meeting, believe me.”

With reporting from Christina Finn.

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53 Comments
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    Mute ÉirePalestine
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:34 AM

    €250 to €260 an hour job given at Zappone’s request, not an open competition. Political cronyism at it’s best. Isn’t this why we have PublicJobs.ie

    808
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    Mute John Duggan
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:46 AM

    @ÉirePalestine: ah yeah but she’s actually expert, admittedly at a job she made up herself but still.

    It’s genuinely banana republic stuff.

    532
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:01 AM

    @ÉirePalestine: thing is, if they’d advertised it on public jobs, she’d have been a top contender anyway. There was no need to go down the cronyism route. Unnecessary and foolish move by government.

    122
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    Mute l
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:19 AM

    @John Mulligan: there was no position. She lobbied SC for it. . He then set it up as a pilot position after meeting.
    She then met Pascal on 19th July
    (he says job not discussed apparently?? ) but her government position pension has been boosted by this now also.

    161
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    Mute ÉirePalestine
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:22 AM

    @John Mulligan: She may well have been a top contender but we’ll never know, she effectively had the position created for herself. It’s blatant cronyism. The Fine Gael way for sure.

    197
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    Mute Brian Flavin
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    Jul 29th 2021, 1:01 PM

    @ÉirePalestine: cronies pure greedy big money per hour

    69
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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:53 AM

    I’d say political life is one huge misgiving for Ryan and the Green lately.

    Stick to power at any cost because the 2nd Green annihilation will happen at the next General Election.

    426
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    Mute JMcB
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:23 AM

    @Gavin Tobin: your right, he is a great lad for soundbites and sticking his bit in when he can but won’t deal with actual green issues that will make a definite change. Pay people for micro generation, encourage public transport authorities to accommodate people using it and allow bikes be transported for free,proper roll out of e charging for cars etc……nah will just widen the bike lanes and wag the finger at the rest of us tell us not to use oil to heat our homes….greens have let down all the people that voted for them on the basis that they would bring about change. I agree with you they will be hurt in the next election

    167
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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Jul 29th 2021, 1:47 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: I think FF will also be annihilated at the next GE which will be problematic for FG.

    86
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    Mute leartius
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:50 AM

    ‘“We move on,” Martin added.’ It feels more like going around in circles.

    238
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    Mute Paul Hedderman
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:35 PM

    @leartius: Similar happened a few months ago with Eamonn Ryan appointing a chairwoman without advertising the role.

    105
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    Mute The CFC Standard ⭐⭐
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:41 AM

    “set to earn €13,000-€15,000 before tax, as the salary is on a pro-rata basis”
    “50 or 60 hours per year” – some pro-rata that is lmao

    232
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    Mute ÉirePalestine
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:48 AM

    @The CFC Standard ⭐⭐: 250/260 an hour… Plus expenses.

    190
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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Jul 29th 2021, 2:18 PM

    @The CFC Standard ⭐⭐: many people work 50-60 hours for €500–€600 before tax…. But €15,000 Tax free is a nice tidy sum for a weeks work.

    38
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    Mute Owen Taaffe
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:12 AM

    I think we should look directly at Ms. Zappone for some answers. What happens to high minded idealism when the gravy train pulls in?

    207
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    Mute Welk wrangler
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:40 AM

    Irish c0rruption still alive and kicking.

    389
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    Mute Eamon Haughton
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:01 AM

    Well well well don’t want to be seen to be Rocking the boat now Eamon do we… Just smile and wave ..

    191
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    Mute George Vladisavljevic
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:57 AM

    Somehow the letters B and S come to mind after reading the article.

    186
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    Mute Will
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:46 AM

    There was no ‘misgivings’ on the process. There was no process.
    There was just a bunch of cronies handing a job to one of their own.

    “We move on” as if this was no big deal, business as usual for the pigs at the trough.

    317
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    Mute alan
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:22 PM

    @Will: and she may indeed be ‘excellent’ , but then so might others if they had been given a chance. Ryan doesn’t seem to see that by making comments like this he is damaging his party. It’s a shame because I imagine the majority of Green Party members would disagree with him too. Suicidal really.

    86
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    Mute Honeybee
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:52 AM

    The Rural Independent Group claimed Ms Zappone’s new job would cost the taxpayer €200,000 – but the Government suggested €15,000 annually,

    Ms Zappone will be paid around €300 a day before expenses based on 50 days per year, according to Mr Coveney’s spokesman, which he suggested was linked to the salary of a Principal Officer salary.

    She is already entitled to a ministerial pension. Ms Zappone is based in New York and will be entitled to vouched travel expenses, including to Ireland, https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/we-look-like-fools-tds-upset-at-how-katherine-zappone-was-given-job-as-free-speech-envoy-40699810.html

    186
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    Mute RBUman1
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:10 AM

    Move on, nothing to see here, just another episode of FFG shenanigans and cronyism, with their Green lackeys in a supporting role. Greens behaving exactly as they did the last time they were in coalition, that is to say disgracefully!

    That said, this is a democracy and over 50% of those who vote, do vote FFG and their Green lackey wing, so this is clearly what we collectively want and therefore what we collectively get. It will continue for as long as we democratically wish for it to go on, but no longer than that.

    By the way, €15k for what is essentially about a week’s worth of work for most ordinary, decent, hard working people on ordinary wages, is not a bad gig at all. Nice for some!

    150
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    Mute Rochelle
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:58 AM

    @RBUman1: The Irish public are world class at complaining about those parties and their antics for 4 years then voting for them again anyway because they’re paralysed with fear at the thoughts of an untested alternative.

    It’s a collective psyche of fear and “better the devil you know” and FF/FG knows they can take advantage of it without consequence.

    84
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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 29th 2021, 2:40 PM

    @Rochelle: It’s hilarious really. Considering what happened to Labour too, they must be the only party held accountable for their misgivings in the very short history of Irish politics. I sort of feel sorry for them really having to deal with the ‘Irish people’… we’re very difficult.

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    Mute frank_66
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:39 AM

    She perjured herself at the jobstown trial to try and get water protesters jailed perhaps that’s her reward

    147
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    Mute Padraig O Muirthile
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:33 AM

    KatZap needs another few bob,
    Ministerial pension, TD pension, lecturing pension, state pension and all else doesn’t go far. She approached Leo for the post. Now she gets her driver-limo, flights home paid, accommodation in NY subsidised, and 15000 in her back pocket.

    What need you being come to sense
    But fumble in a greasy till
    And add the half-pence to the pence,
    And speech to withering speech until
    You’ve dried the marrow from the bone…

    151
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    Mute Rochelle
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:53 AM

    “ah shur it’s only a bit of corruption, no point making a big deal out of it”

    Embarrassing from the greens. Is there even a single person in this government with any principles?

    131
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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:04 PM

    I see the Journal deleted my comment about Ryan having 8 advisors, Bet they wouldn’t do a story on all these so called special advisors.
    As in their back ground and qualifications and who they are related too.

    109
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    Mute Giles Wolohan
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:36 PM

    @Dave Byrne: ah he needs 8 advisers to wake him up every hour works out an 8 hour day then so he gets 150000 grand a year then his expenses for been asleep

    81
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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Jul 29th 2021, 1:22 PM

    @Giles Wolohan: Imagine getting a job as a CEO or COO in the private sector, And you told you’re employer you need other people to do you’re work.

    48
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    Mute John Duggan
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    Jul 29th 2021, 10:40 AM

    It’s one thing to be presented with a sh*t sandwich, it’s another thing entirely to eat it. In rubber stamping this obvious act of cronyism our (admittedly nominal) Taoiseach has retrospectively endorsed it, leading one to ask is their anything he won’t do to hang on to power (or the trappings thereof, as it’s clear whose calling the shots)?

    That Eamon Ryan is also willing to stand over it shows he’s as free of principle as Martin.

    291
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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:59 AM

    Time for an election. Bye bye Green Party

    109
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    Mute Mike Heelan
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:42 AM

    Its another waste of public money
    Envoy for nothing
    Just a little bonus for her

    122
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    Mute Mary Nugent
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:02 AM

    I love Ireland and the way it works for some but not us all.

    106
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    Mute Barbara Coleman
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:26 PM

    Did this lady not pack her bags and move back to US after been defeated in last election ?

    96
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    Mute Honeybee
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:40 PM

    @Barbara Coleman: Indeed but not before sharing in the parachute payment for TD’s who lost their seats in the elections.

    84
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    Mute John Flood
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:47 PM

    I’m a dual citizen, US/IRL, but I don’t speak for Ireland. Who does she speak for at the UN? Cannot believe she held a ministerial position clearly against US Department of State guidance. Yet she prevails.

    69
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    Mute whitewater
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:41 PM

    They’ve got to row in behind their Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. Quite clear from this that Martin is Taoiseach in name only. TDs who lose their seats should be barred from holding any positions like this until after another election.

    69
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    Mute conriel
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    Jul 29th 2021, 11:50 AM

    We all know that this is not new , its Ireland after all, when it comes to the Public service at that level its all about who you know and how your connected, then try to convince everybody the job was got fair and square.

    67
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    Mute ImYourNumber1Fan
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:07 PM

    @conriel: I recently had first hand experience of this. Worked for a government funded department and was interested in a promotion in the same organisation. Enquired about the promotion position and was told by the HR Director that it could only be filled by someone who could attend the Dublin office on a daily basis, even though the incumbent was working remotely and despite all Loe’s talk about the public sector changing to remote or hybrid working. I didn’t bother applying but later spoke to someone else in HR who told me the CEO had already identified who would be getting the job and the organisation was therefore putting walks in place to stop other people applying. I resigned a few weeks later.

    78
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    Mute ImYourNumber1Fan
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:09 PM

    @conriel: I recently had first hand experience of this. Worked for a government funded department and was interested in a promotion in the same organisation. Enquired about the promotion position and was told by the HR Director that it could only be filled by someone who could attend the Dublin office on a daily basis, even though the incumbent was working remotely and despite all Loe’s talk about the public sector changing to remote or hybrid working. I didn’t bother applying but later spoke to someone else in HR who told me the CEO had already identified who would be getting the job, blatant favouritism, and the organisation / HR Director therefore put walls in place to stop other people applying. I resigned a few weeks later.

    30
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    Mute Eddie O'Neill
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:14 PM

    Huge backlash on this story, obviously it was done incorrectly, obviously Coveney and Varadkar and Zappone are breaking the rules so undo the appointment. Thats it, undo the appointment, re-do it properly and legally.

    Or as we do in Ireland, moan about it for a day or two and then let it proceed. We spot corruption, wring our hands and then do FUPPING NOTHING about it.

    81
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    Mute Frank McGlynn
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    Jul 29th 2021, 1:27 PM

    @Eddie O’Neill: Agree the appointment should be rescinded but is there a real job here. Who held this post in the past and what is the job spec?

    38
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    Mute Teddy Bear
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:16 PM

    She’s in-competent. Simple as.

    72
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    Mute M Bowe
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:21 PM

    This entire government work on the adage. ‘ it easier to ask forgiveness than permission’.
    In other words ‘£u*k you Jack, we did it now like it lump it’!

    65
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    Mute Frank McGlynn
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    Jul 29th 2021, 1:34 PM

    “Special envoy on freedom of speech and expression”. She is one of the last people I would expect to defend my right to free speech and expression. Feminists are extremely intolerant of the rights of others to free speech particularly if they challenge remaining views.

    52
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    Mute Frank McGlynn
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    Jul 29th 2021, 1:36 PM

    @Frank McGlynn: I don’t know how “feminist”became “remaining”.

    9
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    Mute Bennett blaster
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    Jul 29th 2021, 3:03 PM

    An excellent envoy, she will lead the world in mileage claims

    30
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    Mute Giles Wolohan
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:33 PM

    Are this government not 1 bit embarrassed by the way the make shxt up as they go along and then pass the book even our so called leader said he didn’t know anything about it he doesn’t run amazon only has a few cronies in the Dail to look after by real he shouldn’t be leader of this country

    46
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    Mute Cookie
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    Jul 29th 2021, 12:39 PM

    She will have to be interviewed for the role after it has been advertised.

    Otherwise she is a thief.

    46
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    Mute Elrond Rivendell
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    Jul 29th 2021, 4:42 PM

    Regardless of whether or not she will make an excellent envoy, the whole process or lack thereof stinks and the appointment is tainted.

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    Mute Kieran Byrne
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    Jul 29th 2021, 4:13 PM

    What else is he going to say.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Jul 30th 2021, 11:49 AM

    Ryan knows the Greens are in government to make up the numbers, more importantly not to rock the boat. His interview concerning the appointment of Zappone was akin to a performing monkey. All due respect to monkeys.

    4
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