McEntee faces Dáil grilling over Woulfe furore
JUSTICE Minister Helen McEntee faces a grilling in the Dáil today over the controversial appointment of Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court j udge attended the Golfgate event in Clifden in August and refused to resign over his handling of the incident despite a call from Chief Justice Frank Clarke to quit.
Ms McEntee has previously faced questions around the appointment of Judge Woulfe to the country’s highest court. Pressure on her to offer answers before the Dáil has grown in recent weeks with opposition parties rejecting an offer to submit their questions to Ms McEntee in advance of a ministerial questions slot.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil yesterday: ‘Minister McEntee is prepared to come into the House tomorrow afternoon and answer questions on this.
‘My responsibility as Taoiseach is to maintain the separation of powers and retain confidence in our judicial system and legislature.’
The Dáil’s Business Committee met yesterday afternoon to discuss the arrangements for the Minister’s appearance. However an agreement couldn’t be reached, meaning a vote went to the Dáil and was last night passed 88 to 63 in favour of Ms McEntee making a statement and answering questions.
Opposition parties and groups had withdrawn from the committee in protest over the Government’s position earlier this week.
The two-hour session in the Dáil today will see 35 minutes reserved for questions to the Minister.
A spokesman for Ms McEntee said: ‘The Minister has asked that time be made available in the Dáil this week for her to come before the House.’