The Tanaiste has released text messages detailing his communication with Katherine Zappone about her appointment to the role of UN Special Envoy.
Ms Zappone asks the Tánaiste whether she'd heard anything from Minister Coveney about her appointment as 'special envoy for human rights and Lgtbq+ issues'.
Mr Varadkar said he hadn't heard anything, and then contacted his Fine Gael colleague for more information.
Messages between Leo Varadkar and Katherine Zappone
Messages between Leo Varadkar and Simon CoveneyIn a statement, Leo Varadkar says the texts show he "wasn't aware of the appointment" at the time and had to contact Simon Coveney for details.
He says he accepts the appointment should have been flagged with other Government party leaders ahead of a Cabinet meeting.
The messages - released by the Tánaiste's office - show Mr Varadkar asking Ms Zappone whether the controversial event she organised at the Merrion Hotel was "definitely legal".
Ms Zappone responded that she'd confirmed with the hotel that it was in line with COVID rules at the time.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs is defending deleting messages between himself and Katherine Zappone and himself and the Tanaiste.
However, he says this is prudent and something he does regularly as he's been hacked in the past.
