Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael clash over Champagne-gate investigation

"People can be excused for inadvertently breaking the rules or making a mistake that they didn’t realise was a mistake but where there is effectively two fingers to the rules that’s a two fingers to the people as well, as far as I see it.” 

Officials were photographed in the department celebrating Ireland’s election onto the UN Security Council, and the image was posted on Twitter by the then secretary general Niall Burgess.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael ministers have clashed over whether an internal investigation into the 2020 Champagne-gate party at the Department of Foreign Affairs is appropriate.

An inquiry headed up by the current Secretary General at the Department of Foreign Affairs Joe Hackett into the event has been ordered by Minister Simon Coveney, but government ministers and TDs have raised concern about its independence.