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Taoiseach, opposition leaders to discuss Woulfe controversy

Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe attended a golf event in August (file image)
Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe attended a golf event in August (file image)

The Taoiseach will discuss issues regarding Supreme Court judge Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe with opposition party leaders on Friday.

They are likely to discuss the advice of the Attorney General, which was examined by the Government yesterday.

While this issue is a matter for the Oireachtas, political sources have pointed out that the Attorney General's advice was to the Government and not the wider Oireachtas.

The Taoiseach has said this meeting will aim to agree a collective approach to an issue that raises fundamental constitutional questions.

Yesterday, Micheál Martin told the Dáil that the Oireachtas must respond in a considered and sensitive way.

Opposition leaders have called for the matter to be addressed by the Oireachtas, following the release of correspondence showing that Chief Justice Frank Clarke told Mr Justice Woulfe he should resign.


Read in full: Letters between Chief Justice and Seamus Woulfe


Mr Justice Woulfe was among more than 80 guests, including then agriculture minister Dara Calleary and EU commissioner Phil Hogan, who attended a Oireachtas Golf Society event in Co Galway in August, despite Covid-19 public health guidelines placing limits on indoor gatherings.

Mr Calleary and Mr Hogan both subsequently resigned, as did Jerry Buttimer, who stepped down as Seanad Leas-Cathaoirleach.

Earlier, Senior Counsel Michael O'Higgins said it was difficult to see how or why an impeachment procedure against Mr Justice Woulfe could be triggered, when there is already a finding in place on the matter, based on evidence.

He said that the first inquiry into the matter was carried out by a very experienced and esteemed judge, Susan Denham, and no one is suggesting that anything new or significant has emerged or that the the information from this inquiry was inadequate.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland in a personal capacity, Mr O'Higgins said Chief Justice Clarke has effectively imposed a penalty phase and in three months' time, when this expires, it may appear that the damage is not as irreparable as it seems.

As things stand, he said, Mr Justice Woulfe cannot be forced to resign.