Varadkar defends AG continuing with case
LEO Varadkar has defended the Attorney General after it was reported he was acting in a private capacity for former directors of Independent News & Media in the company’s proceedings with High Court-appointed inspectors.
The Irish Times reported that Paul Gallagher had been granted permission by the Government to continue working on several outstanding cases after his appointment.
It has been reported the inspectors were appointed by the High Court following a request from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, a State body.
The Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall called it a ‘stunning’ conflict of interest. ‘He cannot take off his Attorney General hat, leave it at the door and enter the room as a different persona. On what planet was it felt it was appropriate to do so? Apparently Mr Gallagher sought and received Government approval to carry on his private legal work. Who provided this approval?’ she asked Mr Varadkar.
Responding, he said: ‘The Attorney General is finishing out a number of cases he had taken on prior to his appointment as attorney general in this Government.’ He said the coalition’s three party leaders and the Cabinet were aware of that decision, but had not been informed of individual cases the AG was involved in.
Mr Varadkar said he would provide answers to Ms Shortall’s questions as soon as possible. ‘I am certain the Attorney General would be careful to avoid any conflict of interest or perception of a conflict of interest. He is a person of the highest integrity and ability,’ he said.
In a statement the Government said: ‘Prior to his appointment in June 2020, the Attorney General disclosed he had a few existing litigation commitments to complete and informed the Government leaders prior to his appointment. In the normal course of events these professional obligations would have been discharged in a short period of time following his appointment. Due to the pandemic there were delays in the hearings of cases, so it was not possible to discharge these professional obligations as early as anticipated.
‘The Attorney General has no continuing private obligations.’