Taoiseach rejects claims of ‘horse trading’ over AG
MICHEÁL Martin has rejected suggestions that the appointment of the Attorney General was linked to that of Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court.
Sinn Féin l eader Mary Lou McDonald accused the Taoiseach of ‘horse trading’ in relation to the appointment of Paul Gallagher as Attorney General during Government formation talks.
Mr Martin said the allegation was an ‘untruth’ and called on Ms McDonald to withdraw the remark.
At Leaders’ Questions, Ms McDonald said: ‘In the endgame of Government formation talks between yourselves and Fine Gael, you announced that the Attorney General would be rotated in line with that of Taoiseach.
‘So the Attorney General position was central to your horse trading. Séamus Woulfe, outgoing attorney general, long-term member of Fine Gael, was appointed to the Supreme Court.’
The Fianna Fáil leader replied: ‘Your assertion that there was horse trading i nvolved in t he context of t he appointment of Paul Gallagher as Attorney General, and some connection to the appointment of Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court, is an
‘Minister had four names to consider’
untruth and a false assertion. ‘You should withdraw it, because it impugns the integrity and the ability of the present Attorney General who has had nothing to do with that.’
The Taoiseach also rejected calls for Justice Minister Helen McEntee to appear before the Dáil to address questions over Mr Woulfe’s appointment.
Ms McDonald demanded the minister explain what happened in the three weeks between June 27, when the Government was formed and Mr Woulfe stood down as attorney general, and his appointment to the Supreme Court on July 16.
She said: ‘In addition to Mr Woulfe, three sitting judges had also expressed an interest in this position. So the minister didn’t have just one name to consider, she had four names. The minister needs to explain very clearly how she whittled down that list of four names to one. By what criteria was that selection made?’
Mr Martin said such questions were ‘ the very reason’ why Ms McEntee should not appear before the Dáil. ‘I don’t believe politicians should be embroiled in terms of negotiations about who should be a judge and who should not be a judge,’ he said.
The Taoiseach added the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board (JAAB), chaired by Chief Justice Frank Clarke, that Mr Woulfe was deemed a suitable appointment was ‘good enough for me’.
Ms McDonald noted the Taoiseach, when leader of the Opposition, raised concerns about exattorney general Máire Whelan’s appointment to the Court of Appeal. ‘You said then that the Government reaching for the separation of powers was bogus,’ she said. ‘You criticised the Government then for resisting taking questions... You were right then, but you are very, very wrong now.’
Mr Martin replied that the JAAB process had not been used in that appointment, but Ms McDonald said: ‘You reach for the JAAB process even though you know that that was one of two channels through which names came forward. Please don’t rehearse that nonsense again. That there was horse trading around the position of Attorney General is not only truthful, it’s a verifiable truth.’
Mr Martin replied: ‘Stop misleading the House... I know there was absolutely no relationship between the appointment of Attorney General Paul Gallagher and the appointment of Séamus Woulfe.’
On Tuesday, Mr Martin said ‘no further steps’ would be taken over Mr Woulfe’s controversial attendance at the ‘Golfgate’ dinner.