TD blasts champagne party report as a ‘whitewash to protect Coveney’

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has criticised the internal review of the Champagne party, describing it as a ‘whitewash’.

He has also focused his criticism on the revelation that Minister Coveney was not even questioned as part of the review.

“There are many questions hanging over the Minister in relation to this champagne party, yet this report didn’t ask a single one of them” Deputy Murphy said.

“First of all, the Minister himself admits he knew the gathering had taken place breaching guidelines, but he did nothing about it.

“Remember, the government set up hotlines and told people to phone the police about parties, and thousands of people faced fines for organising such events.

“Instead of a visit from the Gardai, this party got a visit from the Minister.

“The champagne corks were popped around 9:30 at night and the Minister dropped in around 11pm or so, and yet he wasn’t even asked what was going on while he was there.

“When I asked directly in a Parliamentary Question the Minister refused to say what time he was there or if there were indications of a party while he was there.

“We know from work by journalist Darragh McDonagh that at least one text message to Minister Coveney about the event was deleted.

“Again, this review didn’t even ask about this.

“The Minister needs to come before the Dail to answer questions about it.”