A junior minister is calling on Sinn Féin not to proceed with its no-confidence motion in the Foreign Affairs Minister next week.
Mary Lou McDonald's party says Simon Coveney's position is untenable because of the proposed appointment of Katherine Zappone as a UN special envoy.
A draft version of the motion claims that Minister Coveney’s attempt to appoint his former Cabinet colleague to the role “amounted to cronyism and fell below the standard of government expected by the public.”
It also suggests Minister Coveney had failed to explain "the manner in which the appointment was handled".
The motion is being put forward after Mary Lou McDonald said Minister Coveney should be sacked over the controversy.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has dismissed the motion, claiming the move has no credibility.
Any Fianna Fáil TD who votes against Minister Coveney, or abstains on the vote, will face a suspension from the parliamentary party.
The Dáil's due to vote on Sinn Féin's motion next week when it returns from summer recess next week.
However, Fianna Fáil Junior Minister Niall Collins claims the vote is a waste of time.
He said: "The issues around the Katherine Zappone appointment have been well-articulated and well-discussed.
"The public expect our politicians and our Government to deliver on the issues that really, really impact them.
"I think Sinn Féin should really think long and hard about wasting valuable Dáil time in discussing a motion of confidence, which the Government will have the numbers to carry comfortably."
He claimed Sinn Féin is "playing politics", and should now withdraw the motion.
