Justice Minister defends Máire Whelan’s appointment to the bench

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan mounted a robust defence of Máire Whelan’s appointment to the Court of Appeal as a row over her appointment came to a head.

Mr Flanagan told the Dáil he was “satisfied that all necessary procedures regarding judicial appointment have been followed in this instance”.

He added: “I am also satisfied that the new judge, given her qualifications and breadth of experience will make an invaluable contribution to the work of the Court of Appeal.”

Mr Flanagan said the Government would not explain how it reached the decision to nominate Ms Whelan last week due to constitutional requirements for Cabinet confidentiality.

He also said the Government would not “lay out for political and public consumption the names and details of serving judges who have chosen to put themselves forward for more senior posts”.

The Irish Times reports that senior members of the Irish judiciary are privately unhappy with both the Government and the opposition party Fianna Fáil over the escalating row.

In what has been interpreted as a a pointed remark, Ireland’s most senior judge, Chief Justice Susan Denham, said it was necessary for there to be “some distance between the branches” of government.

Speaking as she welcomed the new Attorney General Séamus Woulfe at a ceremony in the Supreme Court yesterday, she added that judges “are not expected to engage in public controversy”.