Tánaiste Defends AG's Private Work As A Barrister While Acting For The State.

Friday, 1 October 2021 10:43

Opposition parties have described the situation as "grossly inappropriate":

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has defended the Attorney General completing private work as a barrister, while also acting as the State's chief legal counsel.

Paul Gallagher is finishing out work he had before his appointment as AG.

Opposition parties have questioned whether it's a conflict of interest for him to act as the chief legal advisor to the Government, while working in the courts as a private barrister.

Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall says it's "grossly inappropriate":

She joined Clem Ryan on Friday's edition of Kildare Today.

The AG, Paul Gallagher, cannot simply take off his Attorney General hat, leave it at the door, and enter the room as a different persona.

"Who exactly authorised this? Was it a decision by the Taoiseach or the Cabinet? Who provided the legal advice?" says @RoisinShortall pic.twitter.com/1SiilLfoNl
— Social Democrats (@SocDems) September 30, 2021

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