Green Party leader Eamon Ryan says his party will be supporting Fine Gael’s Simon Coveney in the upcoming no-confidence vote triggered by Sinn Féin.
The motion comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding Coveney’s offering of a UN envoy position to former Minister Katherine Zappone, which many have dubbed “cronyism.”
#SinnFéin is to table a motion of no confidence in Simon Coveney – insisting the #Zappone saga “amounted to cronyism." https://t.co/xb0TZZactE
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) September 10, 2021
While Ryan admitted that there “were mistakes made” in the incident’s handling, he said that the work of the government is more important.
“There were mistakes made, the process wasn’t right – but we believe that the government has important work to do,” he said in an interview with Newstalk Breakfast.
“It is a well-functioning government, we work well together.
“Each of us will make mistakes, there’ll be things that we need to change and pull each other up on, but this is a government that…has in my mind managed our way through an incredibly difficult covid crisis.”
“And that’s why we will be voting against the motion of no confidence.”
In addition to Ryan’s assurances, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has warned his party members that they will be punished with a six-month suspension if anyone breaks ranks by failing to support Coveney in the upcoming vote.
Zappone controversy a recurring theme at Fianna Fáil think-in, with some TDs claiming the Taoiseach has downplayed the issue https://t.co/Y8KiIYqhLI
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) September 10, 2021
Martin added that it was a “bit rich” for Sinn Féin to criticise Coveney for cronyism, considering they had appointed many party members to positions in the North.