Simon Coveney orders investigation into Department of Foreign affairs lockdown gathering

Mr Coveney said that when he attended the office to congratulate staff, there was no party and people were back at work. File Picture: Dan Linehan

Simon Coveney has ordered an investigation into a gathering of staff in his department during lockdown in June 2020.

A picture, shared on social media in the aftermath of Ireland winning a UN Security Council seat, showed officials drinking champagne in the offices of Iveagh House.

The investigation will be undertaken by the new Secretary-General in the department, Joe Hackett.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told the Irish Examiner: "On January 13th Minister Coveney asked his current secretary general to report on the impromptu gathering in the department in June 2020 and has asked for that report by the end of the month.” 

Ireland was then in Phase Two of its reopening plan, with regulations stating that people could only meet up to six others from outside their household indoors.

It is understood the report should be completed by the end of the month.

Mr Coveney said last week he would be willing to go before the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs committee to answer questions about the event.

"This was the 17 June 2020 and it was an evening when I, with the Taoiseach, was watching in the Department of the Taoiseach the vote in the UN that resulted in us gaining a seat on the Security Council after three or four years of campaigning to be there," Mr Coveney said.

"Unfortunately, in my Department, there were 20 or so officials who have been very much involved in that successful campaign and when the vote came true, they celebrated in a way that they shouldn't have. 

They let their guard down.

"I have to say they're all mortified by what happened now and that shouldn't have happened and the Department has apologised for it."

Mr Coveney said that when he attended the office to congratulate staff, there was no party and people were back at work.

He was told the same evening about the social media post but did not think it warranted further investigation at the time.