Pressure is piling on the Government to establish an independent, external investigation into a Champagne party at the Department of Foreign Affairs during lockdown.
Labour TD Ged Nash said that the internal inquiry announced last week is not sufficient and an outsider needs to be brought in.
Members of Government party Fianna Fáil are also calling for an independent investigator from outside to be appointed to any review.
Junior minister Anne Rabbitte made this call at the weekend and this was bolstered on Tuesday morning by her party colleague, Fianna Fáil senator Malcolm Byrne, who said an independent, external review would be “beneficial.”
Mr Nash told the Irish Mirror: “There ought to be an independent examination of this issue.
“A colleague should not be put in a position where they are examining issues arising that might relate to other colleagues.
“That doesn’t meet the threshold as far as we’re concerned.
“And if an examination of the event is to take place it should be done independently.
“We are clear and unequivocal on that, that’s best practice and that’s what should be pursued.”
The investigation as it stands is to be conducted by current Secretary General at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Joe Hackett.
He will be tasked with the awkward job of investigating many of his current colleagues.
Mr Byrne said: “It shouldn’t have happened, I think that has been accepted.
“My view is that if there is an external review, should happen, that could certainly be beneficial…..my personal preference is that I’ve no problem with somebody external being appointed, so long as there is clarity.”
The controversy has been sparked by the publication of a picture of an impromptu party at the Department on June 17 2020, the night Ireland won a seat on the UN Security Council.
A selfie was posted on Twitter (before being quickly deleted) by then-Secretary General Niall Burgess in which people are ignoring social distancing, not wearing masks and drinking Champagne.
This was against public health guidelines at the time.
The Mirror also revealed last week that another, official, bash to celebrate the UN win was held on July 15, with 80 people in Iveagh House’s back garden for drinks and nibbles.
The Department said this was within the guidelines, which had changed two weeks previously, and allowed for “mass gatherings” of up to 200 people outdoors at the time.
However, it came while the country was still suffering from considerable restrictions on their social lives.
They included a ban on communion and confirmation parties in people’s back gardens and all so-called ‘wet pubs’ that didn’t serve food still being shuttered.
