A heated exchange.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin responded to queries related to Simon Coveney's texting habits, noting that he himself only conducts government business in-person or via phone call.
On Tuesday evening, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence noted at a meeting that he routinely deletes text messages for storage space reasons. Coveney was addressing specific texts that concerned the controversial Katherine Zappone appointment and subsequent 'Merriongate' fallout.
On Wednesday, Coveney seeked to clarify the matter, insisting that any related texts that were later deleted were part of a regular habit of clearing messages. Coveney also stated that he changes his phone once a year for security reasons.
In an occasionally heated conversation with Bryan Dobson on
RTÈ News at One on Wednesday afternoon, Taoiseach Micheál Martin moved to play down the situation.
"Just briefly, on the Zappone appointment, Simon Coveney says that he deleted texts between himself, Leo Varadkar and Katherine Zappone," Dobson began. "Should ministers be deleting texts?"
Martin responded: "I haven't seen the full testimony but basically, your official anything, any records in relation to official work or business is normally retained. Just on that issue, as part of the three-party government, we've agreed that any additional appointments or any appointments to particular positions is shared amongst us.
"It didn't happen on this occasion in advance of the cabinet. It wasn't a majorly significant appointment, let's be honest about it, but it was an envoy in relation to the freedom of expression issue in the context of our UN Security Council membership. I think Simon Coveney has apologised for that, he's been up front about it..."
At this point, Dobson interjected to ask if the Taoiseach deletes texts himself.
"I don't do government business by text," he replied. "Well, I don't. And that would be known. I don't do government business by text. I engage with people and I ring people."
You can view the full interview below.
https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1433038889908908036
Earlier, Martin stood firm in the face of suggestions that the Taoiseach appears to condone a culture of indiscipline across his coalition government.
"A lot of the criticism, particularly internal criticism, appears to focus on, perhaps what some might see as your tolerance of indiscipline within the three-party government; ministers leaking cabinet decisions even while meetings are still underway," said Dobson.
"We saw that with the Katherine Zappone appointment a little earlier. As Taoiseach, because of the nature of the government you lead, do you just have to tolerate that?"
Martin responded: "As a Taoiseach, I'm into substance. I'm into the big policy issues and challenges that face our country, Covid-19 and trying to protect people as much as we can [has been] a key objective in the last year as Taoiseach, but also the housing challenge."
At this point, Dobson noted that the government requires cohesion.
"We do," said Martin. "And it's a three-party coalition government, first of its kind in the history of the state. That does present challenges [and] government does have to collectively work together. It has been, too. The big-ticket items, we're doing well on, actually."
Dobson then asked: "Leaking isn't a problem?"
Martin: "It is a problem. Leaking shouldn't occur, particular of conversations around the cabinet table because context can get misapplied and all of that. I think there's an obligation on all to be conscious of that but I think in the bigger picture, on the substantial issues, we've achieved a lot over the last year and a bit in this government and some significant legislation [has been] passed that will have economic benefit into the future... the climate, the housing, the healthcare will be improved as a result of action that this government has taken."
Featured image via Julien Behal/Rollingnews.ie
