Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The appointment of Katherine Zappone was mismanaged from the start. It has damaged the perception of Government competence and left the door open for legitimate criticism. However, Sinn Féin has magnified and exaggerated the issue. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has explained through the required channels the details of events that occurred. He has admitted that things could, and should, have been done differently. The Minister has apologised for his mistakes. His error of judgment in this instance is not in keeping with his long-standing political character. Deputy Coveney has been always cautious, careful and prudent in his actions and commentary on political issues. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, is known for his integrity and commitment, which has been flawless over the years. I know him to be sincere and genuine. The people of this country have been through an extremely difficult and challenging time. Covid has taken up a large amount of Dáil time since March 2020. People now want to move forward. They wish to hear what the future holds in terms of our dysfunctional health service, our economy, housing for their families and the host of other matters that have genuine importance in their lives. I run a busy political office. Contact with the general public keeps me in tune with public opinion. This matter has never registered as a serious issue in the public mind. The feedback I get from the public is of puzzlement as to how or why this has dominated political discourse. It is time to move on and to address the real and substantive issues facing our country. I am happy to declare confidence in the Minister, Deputy Coveney.

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