Zappone memo on Taoiseach's desk before Cabinet meeting, says Varadkar

Mr Varadkar told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that the memo had been in the office the day before the controversy broke.

The memo naming Katherine Zappone as Ireland's appointment to the UN was on the Taoiseach's desk the day before Cabinet, according to Leo Varadkar.

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin was blindsided by the appointment of the former Minister in the last Fine Gael government, reportedly only made aware of the appointment at the meeting on July 27.