Helen McEntee to answer questions about the appointment of Seamus Woulfe

Justice Minister Helen McEntee will answer oral questions about the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Seamus Woulfe, but will not undergo a question and answer session.

Ms. McEntee wrote to Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail tonight to ask him to convey to the Dáil Business Committee that she would like her next session, scheduled for December 15, to be brought forward “to a satisfactory date” for members. .

McEntee has come under fire in recent days for the appointment of the former Attorney General to the Supreme Court.

Both Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar have said they were unaware that three acting judges had expressed interest in the role. Ms. McEntee has maintained that proper procedure was used, with only one name appearing before Cabinet.

Ms. McEntee’s refusal to answer questions on the matter has caused some degree of frustration in the cabinet.

Until this afternoon, there was a growing belief among ministers that Ms. McEntee was not answering questions “it was not sustainable.”

The ministers said they now believe it would be preferable for Ms McEntee to answer the questions and move on.

In the letter, however, Ms. McEntee told Ceann Comhairle that she would take oral questions, which are sent in advance.

He said the Government was concerned that the opposition’s desire for him to answer TD questions in a similar way as Mr. Varadkar recently did would be “inappropriate”.

“The Government and I are seriously concerned that the way in which the Opposition proposes the Dáil debate on judicial appointments may generate inappropriate comments on the service of judges in the plenary session of the Chamber.

The concerns outlined by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste this week are shared across the government.

“However, I am also aware of the responsibility of ministers to be accountable to the Dáil. Members can submit parliamentary questions and oral questions to me and my colleagues in the Government on many issues.

“The oral questioning process will ensure that members can raise concerns on many issues within the parameters of normal parliamentary procedures.”

‘Ridiculous’ interrogation method

Opposition leaders reacted angrily to the interrogation method, calling it “spurious” Alan Kelly.

“This is a completely false suggestion from the Minister and it doesn’t change anything. It’s ridiculous. You have no choice but to answer your usual questions.

“The Minister of Justice and the Government must now put an end to this charade and agree to make a statement to the Dáil on Tuesday afternoon followed by a question and answer session with opposition spokespersons.

“It is highly misleading for the minister to submit her request to reschedule her standard oral questioning session which covers all the issues under her brief as a kind of concession to calls from the Labor Party for nearly a week to answer questions in the Dáil on the process of appointment of the Supreme Court ”.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald called it a “spinning car.”

“The government is still around. Their ‘grave concern’ is a selfish desire to avoid accountability. What is required is a full statement from the minister followed by questions. Nothing less than this will suffice.”