He also denies there was regular contact between them before she was offered the position.
Simon Coveney says Tánaiste Leo Varadkar was 'not involved' in discussions around offering Katherine Zappone the role of UN Special Envoy.
The Foreign Affairs Minister has told an Oireachtas Committee, it's not accurate to say he was close friends with Ms Zappone.
The group was chaired by Laois/Offaly TD Charlie Flanagan and included midlands' representatives; Barry Cowen, Sorca Clarke and Cathal Berry.
Minister Coveney has also denied there was regular contact between them before she was offered the position of Special Envoy for freedom of opinion and expression.
He says the Tánaiste only found out the details before the proposal went to Cabinet:
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