Leo ‘will support the AG’

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar will stand by the Attorney General amid expected criticism from Opposition parties in the Dáil this week.

Séamus Woulfe is under fire for describing legislation to change the way judges are appointed as a “dog’s dinner” and commenting on an ongoing court case.

However, Mr Varadkar is expected to put up a robust defence of Mr Woulfe if he comes under pressure in the Dáil – even though a number of ministers have privately said they were shocked at his public utterances.

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall told the Irish Independent: “They are both serious issues and it constitutes gross interference in areas he shouldn’t be commenting on publicly. He has a behind-the-scenes role.”

Mr Woulfe, who is legal adviser to the Government, told an Association of European Journalists lunch in Dublin that the amendments made to the Judicial Appointments Bill had turned it into a “complete dog’s dinner”.

Fianna Fáil has called for the bill, which is the pet project of Transport Minister Shane Ross, to be scrapped – but the Government last night insisted it remains a priority.

Mr Woulfe also predicted that the Supreme Court will rule against former Rehab boss Angela Kerins in her case against the Public Accounts Committee.

The comments about the court case were made during an ‘off the record’ question and answer session – but were subsequently published in ‘The Sunday Times’.

Ms Shortall said this was the more serious of the two issues. “There’s no way a politician would or should comment on the outcome of a court case,” she said.

However, a spokesperson for Mr Varadkar told the Irish Independent that the Taoiseach believes “off the record remarks should be respected”.