The Katherine Zappone controversy, also known as the Merrion Hotel controversy or Merrion Gate,[1][2] was a political scandal in Ireland involving associates and former colleagues of former Minister for ChildrenKatherine Zappone who attended an outdoor gathering at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin, on 21 July 2021, six days prior to her controversial appointment as UN special envoy.[3]
Following the publication of the story on 4 August by the Irish Independent,[5] there was widespread anger among opposition TDs.[6][7] Ultimately Zappone would decline to take up the position as UN envoy following criticism of the appointment procedure.[8]
Background
The Merrion Hotel, seen pictured here, played host to the event organised by Zappone.
On 27 July 2021, during a Cabinet meeting, it was revealed that Zappone was to be appointed to the newly created position of "Special Envoy to the UN for Freedom of Opinion and Expression". It subsequently emerged that the proposed appointment had not been flagged in advance of the meeting where it was proposed by Minister for Foreign AffairsSimon Coveney, raising the concerns of the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin.[9] However, he did not block the appointment, attracting criticism from within government, the opposition and the public, with Sinn Féin describing the appointment as "cronyism".[10]
In the following days, it was reported that Zappone had lobbied for the creation of and appointment to the part-time position, which was not openly advertised or subject to a competition.[11]
Calls for Zappone to decline the job gained momentum on 4 August after the Merrion Hotel controversy arose when the Irish Independent reported that six days prior to the announcement of her appointment (on 21 July),[12] Zappone had hosted a gathering for 50 guests, including politicians such as the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, at the Merrion Hotel, while the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland was ongoing. Comparisons were made between the gathering and the Golfgate scandal from earlier in the pandemic.[4] Zappone, the Merrion Hotel, the Attorney General and the Tánaiste all insisted that the event was compliant with COVID-19 rules at the time.[13]
Later that same day, Zappone announced that she would not take up the envoy role, stating "While I am honoured to have been appointed by the Government to be the Special Envoy on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, it is clear that criticism of the appointment process has impacted the legitimacy of the role itself. It is my conviction that a Special Envoy role can only be of real value to Ireland and to the global community if the appointment is acceptable to all parties."[8]
The controversy took another twist as the Government Press Office released a statement saying that advice from the Attorney General Paul Gallagher was that organised events and gatherings could take place for up to 200 people "including social, recreational, exercise, cultural, entertainment or community events".[14]
Following the breaking of the story, the gathering was criticised heavily across Irish society.
The Government was accused by Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy of throwing public health guidelines "out the window" and changing COVID-19 guidelines to "retrospectively approve the attendance of Tánaiste at an event". The claim by Carthy was made after the Attorney General issued a statement saying that the COVID-19 regulations "provide for organised outdoor events and gatherings of up to 200 people".[22][23]
Sinn Féin leaderMary Lou McDonald called for the guest list for the Merrion Hotel function to be made public,[24] while her party colleague, David Cullinane, accused the Government of "making it up as they go along" following the statement outlining the Attorney General's advice and that the Fáilte Ireland guidelines state that "organised events are currently not permitted" with certain exceptions.[25]
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said the gathering was a "jaw-dropping mix of hypocrisy and cronyism".[26]
As the story developed, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney acknowledged they made mistakes in seeking to give a newly created taxpayer-funded job to Zappone, their former Government colleague.[27] Varadkar issued a statement confirming he attended the gathering and said he was "confident" that COVID-19 regulations were not breached.[28]
The appointment of Zappone to the job blindsided the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said he had no prior knowledge of the proposal going to Cabinet.[29]
The next day, on 5 August, the political controversy continued with Minister of State and Fianna Fáil TD for WaterfordMary Butler describing as a "complete shambles" the handling of the appointment of Zappone to the special envoy role,[30] while there were calls for Varadkar to make a further statement on the controversy and the advice from Government that outdoor social events of up to 200 people were permitted under COVID-19 regulations.[1] The chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins said that the hospitality sector did not know until the Attorney General confirmed that up to 200 people were allowed for outdoor gatherings within social settings.[31]
In the wake of the controversy, Fáilte Ireland updated its hospitality guidelines on 6 August to allow customers book multiple tables and host outdoor gatherings with live music for up to 200 people.[32][33]
Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane said that it is incredible that Varadkar, who was negotiating the regulations for the hospitality sector, had to ring the hotel and ask if the event he was attending was in compliance with the health guidelines.[34]
Speaking on RTÉ News: Six One, Varadkar expressed his regret for attending the event, but said it was not in breach of Government regulations, and "probably" not in breach of Fáilte Ireland guidelines.[35][36]
On 8 August, the Taoiseach made his first comments about Varadkar's attendance at the event saying there were shortcomings of "clarity and consistency" in guidelines and that regulations were not breached, but that guidelines were not clear about the status of such events.[37]
On 10 August, Fianna Fáil's youth wing Ógra Fianna Fáil called on Varadkar to resign following his attendance at the event.[38][39] In a statement it said that it was "deeply concerned" by the Varadkar's conduct and that it would be a "mistake" for him to become Taoiseach in December 2022.[40]
On 1 September, Simon Coveney admitted that he had deleted texts from his phone in relation to the Zappone affair. Coveney gave a number of reasons for deleting the texts, including that he had deleted them for more storage space, and for security reasons as his phone had previously been "hacked". Coveney's explanations were criticised by many members of the Dáil, including by members of government coalition members Fianna Fáil. Senator Catherine Ardagh of Fianna Fáil stated it "beggars belief that important text messages related to work matters would be deleted" while Fianna Fáil TD James Lawless said "Modern phones have ample storage without having to frequently delete. I would also question to what extent is there an obligation on those subject to Freedom of Information to retain such information".[41] On 6 September, the Department of Foreign Affairs released a collection of over one hundred documents in response to Freedom of Information requests relating to the appointment of a special envoy.[42] Coveney appeared at the Committee on Foreign Affairs the following day and apologised for the "political fiasco" surrounding the role.[43]
Zappone was invited to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, but chose not to attend. As a US citizen and resident, the committee had no power to compel her attendance.[44]
Vote of no confidence in Simon Coveney
The Zappone Affair led to a motion of no confidence being brought against Simon Coveney
On 15 September, upon the return of Dáil Éireann from a summer recess, a motion of no confidence was brought forward by Sinn Féin against Simon Coveney as a direct result of the Zappone appointment and his subsequent handling of the affair in the aftermath of the details becoming public. High-profile Fianna Fáil member Marc MacSharry resigned from the parliamentary party in order to vote against Coveney.[45] Regardless, Coveney survived the motion 92 votes to 59 as the government parties enforced the whip on the vote, while Independent TDs generally sided with the government on the vote as well.[46]
The Tánaiste is the second-ranking member of the government of Ireland and the holder of its second-most senior office. It is the equivalent of the deputy prime minister in other parliamentary systems.
Micheál Martin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician serving as Taoiseach since January 2025, having previously held the position from 2020 to 2022. Martin served as Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence from December 2022 to January 2025. He has been Leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011 and a TD for Cork South-Central since 1989. He previously served as Leader of the Opposition from 2011 to 2020 and held various cabinet offices under Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen.
Simon Coveney is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 2022 to 2024. He served as deputy leader of Fine Gael from 2017 to 2024. He has been in the cabinet since 2011, holding a range of ministerial portfolios, including as Tánaiste from 2017 to 2020.
This is a list of records relating to the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland, which consists of the President of Ireland, and two Houses, Dáil Éireann, a house of representatives whose members are known as Teachtaí Dála or TDs, and Seanad Éireann, a senate whose members are known as senators.
Frances Fitzgerald is a former Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Tánaiste from 2016 to 2017, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation from June 2017 to November 2017, Minister for Justice and Equality from 2014 to 2016, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs from 2011 to 2014, and Leader of Fine Gael in the Seanad from 2007 to 2011. She served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Dublin constituency from 2019 to 2024 and a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1992 to 2002 and 2011 to 2019. She was also a Senator for the Labour Panel from 2007 to 2011.
Leo Eric Varadkar is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach from 2017 to 2020 and from 2022 to 2024, as Tánaiste from 2020 to 2022, and as leader of Fine Gael from 2017 to 2024. A TD for the Dublin West constituency from 2007 to 2024, he held a range of other ministerial positions during his time in government. Described as centre-right economically, he advocated free markets, lower taxes, and welfare reform. On social issues, he supported successful constitutional referendums to legalise same-sex marriage and to liberalise Ireland's abortion laws.
Fine Gael is a political party in Ireland, formed in 1933 as a merger of Cumann na nGaedheal, the National Centre Party, and the Blueshirts.
Katherine Zappone is an American-Irish independent politician who served as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs from May 2016 to June 2020. She was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-West constituency from 2016 to 2020. She previously served as a Senator from 2011 to 2016, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.
The 32nd Dáil was elected at the 2016 general election on 26 February and first met at 10.30 a.m. on 10 March 2016. The members of Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland, are known as TDs. It sat with the 25th Seanad as the two Houses of the Oireachtas.
There were two governments of the 32nd Dáil, which was elected at the general election held on 26 February 2016. The 30th government of Ireland was led by Enda Kenny as Taoiseach and the 31st government of Ireland was led by Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach. They were minority governments with Fine Gael and Independent TDs at cabinet, reliant on the support of other Independent TDs, and a confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fáil. It was the first time Fine Gael had returned to government after a general election, and the succession of Varadkar as Taoiseach in 2017 was the first time a Fine Gael leader had succeeded a party colleague as Taoiseach within a Dáil term.
The events surrounding the formation of Ireland's government in 2016 took place during March, April and May of that year, following the general election held on 26 February, which failed to produce an overall majority for any of the country's outgoing political alliances and resulted in a hung parliament.
The 2017 Fine Gael leadership election was triggered in May 2017, when Enda Kenny resigned as leader of Fine Gael. Voting began by members of Fine Gael and Young Fine Gael on 29 May 2017. On 2 June Leo Varadkar was announced as the victor, beating rival Simon Coveney. With Fine Gael being the governing party at the time, this election effectively selected a new Taoiseach for Ireland.
Events during the year 2020 in Ireland. As in most of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic dominated events in Ireland during this year.
There were three governments of the 33rd Dáil, being coalition governments of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. This followed the 2020 general election to Dáil Éireann held on 8 February, and negotiations on a programme for government that lasted till June. The parties agreed on a rotation, with the two major party leaders alternating as Taoiseach. The makeup of the parties resulted in a centre-right coalition. It was the first time that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have participated in the same government, which Leo Varadkar described as the end of what has often been referred to as Civil War politics.
The Oireachtas Golf Society scandal, also known informally as "Golfgate", was a political scandal in Ireland involving past and present members of that country's parliament, the Oireachtas, who attended a gathering of the Oireachtas Golf Society in Clifden, County Galway, on 19 August 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and affected the political system of the Republic of Ireland, causing suspensions of legislative activities and isolation of multiple politicians due to fears of spreading the virus. Several politicians have tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Events during the year 2021 in Ireland. As in most of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic dominated events in Ireland this year.
The following is a timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland in 2021.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, the Irish government introduced various public health and economic measures to mitigate its impact.
2020s in Irish history refers to significant events in Ireland in the 2020s.
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