Department of Foreign Affairs report blames former secretary general for breach of Covid guidelines

Report said Niall Burgess was ‘largely responsible’ for facilitating the breach of social distance guidance

The photo of the champagne party posted on Twitter in June 2020 by Niall Burgess, the former secretary general of the Department of Foreign Affairs

The Department of Foreign Affairs’ internal report into its champagne party during the lockdown has placed the blame on the shoulders of its former secretary general.

Niall Burgess, the former secretary general of the department, posted a photo on Twitter of himself and senior staff hosting a champagne celebration of Ireland winning a seat on the UN Security Council in June 2020 in breach of lockdown restrictions.

Joe Hackett, the current secretary general of the ...