The Government will seek to "dump" the Séamus Woulfe controversy back on Chief Justice Frank Clarke as the political appetite to impeach the former attorney general declines. Government sources further revealed that Mr Woulfe had lobbied to retain his role as attorney general, which he had held since 2017, in the current government. Mr Woulfe, it is understood, lobbied to stay in the office until just days before Paul Gallagher was named by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. "It's very clear Mr Woulfe doesn't enjoy the confidence of his peers or the Chief Justice but it remains to be seen how that can be rowed back on." A spokesperson for justice minister Helen McEntee said that this is "standard practice" with judicial appointments.

Source: Irish Examiner November 14, 2020 07:00 UTC