Simon Coveney has more integrity than entire Sinn Féin parliamentary party combined – Brophy

Minister Simon Coveney has accepted and apologised for the political mistakes made over the Zappone appointment, in doing so, showing more dignity and integrity than Mary Lou McDonald or the Sinn Féin parliamentary party, a Fine Gael Minister has said.

Minister for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora Colm Brophy TD slammed Sinn Féin’s threats of a no confidence motion today as a classic Sinn Féin publicity stunt.

Minister Brophy said, “Simon Coveney has apologised for his handling of the Zappone appointment, and he has willingly gone before the Committee of Foreign Affairs on two occasions. He has admitted the sloppiness with the way this issue was handled and apologised for doing so. Most importantly, the public know that he is a Minister with a track record of public service, integrity and decency.

“Minister Coveney has fully accepted and apologised for the damage this episode has caused to the Government, but we now see Sinn Fein trying to split the Government and cause a General Election as we work to finally get the country back on track after a national emergency.

“We will not be taking advice from the leader of a parliamentary party who would like the public to forget that a Sinn Féin Dublin TD spent €50,000 for ink cartridges, paid for by the Oireachtas at the public’s expense, or that their Finance Minister in Northern Ireland took instructions from unknown and unelected senior Sinn Féin figures.

“Sinn Féin is more interested in its own self-promotion rather than actually contributing to getting this country back on track post-pandemic,” Minister Brophy concluded.