Tipperary TD, Mattie McGrath, has slammed the government for establishing a special arrangement for the Attorney General, so that he can continue working in private litigation, despite the conflict of interest.
Challenging the Taoiseach to explain and make a public statement on this matter, the leader of the Rural Independent group, Deputy McGrath stated:
“The office of the Attorney General must be absolutely independent, seen to be independent and free from distraction, due to the national importance and crucial role of the office.”
“The Attorney General has a crucial role in vindicating the rights of citizens and in maintaining the highest standards in the legal profession, while also acting as a conduit between the judiciary and other branches of government.”
“The astonishing revelation that the government established a special arrangement to allow the new Attorney General, Mr. Paul Gallagher, to continue with his private litigation work, in tandem with his public role, completely undermines the office of the Attorney General and the public good.”
“Serious questions around this special arrangement must be answered. Thus, the Taoiseach must quickly clarify the role he played in designing and agreeing to this special arrangement, especially when the deal facilitated the Attorney General to continue with private litigation, such as representing the former directors of Independent News and Media (INM) – a company under investigation by the ODCE.”
“It is grossly inappropriate and bizarre for a government to allow a situation where a serving Attorney General would be facilitated to sit at cabinet, advise the government and write our laws, while simultaneously advising high-paying private clients on how to circumvent those same laws.”
“Allowing such practices to exist, even for a short period of time, are reckless, given that the Attorney General is the legal advisor to the government and required to hold absolute objectivity and independence in all matters. Clearly, the exposure of this special deal challenges the notion that the Attorney General upheld those crucial principles of objectivity and independence.”
“In Ireland, the public interests are committed to the care of the Attorney General. It is, therefore, paramount that such interests are not diminished in any way, because of external competing commitments or obligations, engaged in by a serving Attorney General.”
“This is a serious matter, and it requires a thoroughly clear explanation from the Taoiseach, which should include full disclosure of all private litigation work undertaken by the Attorney General since he was appointed by the government and the details surrounding the permission given by the government,” concluded Deputy McGrath.
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