Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald branded the Government's claim that questions could not be put to the Minister of Justice over the appointment of Seamus Woulfe's to the Supreme Court as bogus.
Ms McDonald said it beggars believe that the three party leaders in Government did not ask if any others had expressed an interest in the post.
"This is remarkable if true," she told the Dáil.
Ms McDonald said the role of Attorney General was a key part of the horse trading during the formation of Government talks.
She claimed the issue stinks to high heavens.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the assertion that there was horse trading involved is untrue and a false assertion.
He said there was absolutely no relationship between the appointment the present Attorney General Paul Gallagher and the nomination of Mr Justice Woulfe to the Supreme Court.
He said that he was satisfied that Judicial Appointments Advisory Board has chosen a suitable candidate in Mr Justice Woulfe and he would not second guess it.
Mr Martin said the Dáil was not the place to discuss why one candidate was chosen ahead of another one.
The Government would establish a new independent commission to appoint judges, he said.
Ms McDonald described the Taoiseach's response as incoherent gibberish.
She said his words now are in stark contrast to what he said in 2017 when he criticised the appointment of the then Attorney General Maire Whelan to the Court of Appeal.
