Taoiseach left 'blindsided' by proposal to appoint Zappone as government envoy

Micheál Martin was not notified of the decision to appoint the former Independent Minister for Children to the position before Cabinet met today

Katherine Zappone has been appointed as the  Government’s special envoy on freedom of opinion and expression. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin was left "blindsided" by Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney over the proposal to make former minister Katherine Zappone a government envoy.

Ms Zappone has been appointed to the paid position of the Government’s special envoy on freedom of opinion and expression without any tendering process or competition.