Why did Katherine Zappone's UN envoy appointment spark a political crisis?
At a time when TDs and ministers are usually winding down after the end of the Dáil term, the Government is facing a political crisis. It started last Tuesday August 27th, when journalist Daniel McConnell tweeted that the Cabinet had agreed to appoint Katherine Zappone, the former minister for children, to a newly-created role of UN Special Envoy on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. The move sparked calls for clarity over the appointment process, with Opposition TDs describing it as "cronyism" and lacking any real transparency. Then, just as the controversy seemed to be dying down, reports…
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