The Government is set to have a busy day defending a number of decisions made in the last 24 hours.
Sinn Fein are calling on the Taoiseach to establish an independent investigation into the champagne party celebration in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2020.
It comes after the internal review published last night had “no accountability,” according to Sinn Fein.
The former Secretary General who took the infamous champagne party picture at the Department of Foreign Affairs has been asked to donate €2,000 to a charity providing assistance to people affected by Covid, the report has said.
While three other senior officials have been asked to make a similar donation in the amount of €1,000.
The investigation carried out by the new Secretary General, Joe Hackett, of the celebration in 2020 at Iveagh House in the aftermath of Ireland winning a UN Security Council seat, found that a "serious breach" of social distancing rules occurred.
Addressing the report this morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said he did not order an investigation or take action back in 2020 because he trusted his secretary general to deal with the matter.
He said he saw it as a “workplace mistake.”
Minister Coveney has also said he will take questions at an Oireachtas Committee now that the report has been published.
It’s expected the Taoiseach will face questioning about the report during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil.
Meanwhile, Cabinet is meeting on Tuesday and Education Minister Norma Foley will bring a proposal that will recommend against providing a hybrid exam option.
The news leaked last night and Opposition TDs have said the decision is “desperate.”
It’s understood the Department of Education believes it is not possible to adopt an accredited grades approach like last year, because one quarter of the students did not sit the Junior Cert.
Therefore, the necessary data would not be available to examiners.
It is being proposed that Leaving Cert students will sit a written exam, which includes additional elements of choice.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan described the proposals for a written Leaving Certificate as "fairer option" for students.
Minister Foley is due to speak to the media at around 12pm.
Sinn Fein TDs David Cullinane, Mark Ward and Pa Daly will speak to the media ahead of their party’s Private Member’s Bill on improving children’s mental services.
Social Democrats so-leader Roisin Shorthall will discuss her party’s motion on the cost of cancer care which will be debated in the Dáil on Wednesday.
Leaders’ Questions is also set to hear about the housing crisis as RTÉ’s PrimeTime show will feature the struggles facing people across the country.
