Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has insisted no further investigations are needed into a June 2020 champagne celebration in his department.
Simon Coveney was speaking after a report on Monday found a “serious breach” of Covid-19 social distancing rules had occurred at the bash.
The publication came after controversy over the gathering of staff, held in the aftermath of Ireland winning a seat on the UN Security Council, while the country was in lockdown.
Mr Coveney said he did not see the need for any further investigation into the matter, despite calls from opposition parties for more clarity on the role on the minister in the affair.
Asked on RTE radio why action was not taken at the time, Mr Coveney said: “Mainly because I trusted my Secretary General.
“I wasn’t there when this breach of guidelines occurred.
“I came back to the department later on that evening, to thank the staff. Most of them were ready to go home at that point.
“I went back up to my office. I was told late that evening, that the Secretary General had tweeted out a photograph which showed people celebrating. That tweet was taken down.”
Mr Coveney said the tweet was not taken down at his request.
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