JUDICIARY JOBS SYSTEM ‘ROTTEN’ CLAIMS MINISTER
Ross vows to raise Whelan appointment at Cabinet
TRANSPORT Minister Shane Ross has slammed the “rotten” judicial appointments system and said he will raise the Maire Whelan controversy at Cabinet on Tuesday.
The Attorney General was appointed to the Court of Appeal by the Government despite not having applied for the job, in a move branded “stroke politics” by the Opposition.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended the appointment and denied claims from Fianna Fail that Fine Gael had breached the confidence and supply agreement.
Speaking yesterday Mr Ross insisted he “would not have allowed something like this to happen without an intervention”.
He attended the Cabinet meeting where Ms Whelan was unanimously appointed, but reportedly raised concerns about the decision. His legislation to reform the appointment process will come before the Dail next week or the week after.
He continued: “The Independent Alliance made it absolutely clear all along that we don’t like the process of appointments. It’s no coincidence, I suppose, for many years every time a judge has been appointed there’s been some sort of political row. “That’s what we want to end.” Ms Whelan was appointed to the role during Enda Kenny’s final Cabinet meeting as Taoiseach. In her role as Attorney General, Ms Whelan attended every Cabinet meeting, and reportedly remained in the room while her appointment was voted on.
Three members of the High Court had applied for the role to which she was appointed.
Her name was put forward by former justice minister Frances Fitzgerald after the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, of which Ms Whelan is a member, was unable to suggest any candidates.
The controversy has stained Mr Varadkar’s first week as the country’s new Taoiseach, with some allies unhappy with his handling of the situation.
Fianna Fail are considering pulling the plug on the Government over the scandal, and Mr Ross’ comments will cause further headaches for Fine Gael.
Every time a judge has been appointed there has been a row MINISTER SHANE ROSS DUBLIN YESTERDAY