Tag Archives: Paul Gallagher

From top: Attorney General Paul Gallagher; former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter

This morning.

Further to revelations that Attorney General Paul Gallagher acted for private clients, including a former director of Independent News and Media in a case in which the State is on the opposing side…

…Via former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter in the Irish Times:

The lack of complete transparency surrounding the current AG’s continued engagement in private practice since his appointment, the manner in which information has emerged and the official response to it emerging exacerbates that risk.

If the AG intended to maintain any private practice for an extended period of time this should have been made public knowledge at the time of his appointment. The explanation given that his involvement in private practice was prolonged by the Covid pandemic is difficult to understand.

We were in the midst of the pandemic in June 2020 when Paul Gallagher SC was appointed. It’s impact in delaying court hearings readily created additional time for the transfer of court briefs.

The issue is not simply about whether the AG continuing in private practice impacted on his availability to efficiently fulfil his obligations to Government but is also about avoiding conflicts of interest, real or perceived, ensuring public confidence in the manner in which he carries out his role and there being no public perception, however wrong, of the AG or any member of the judiciary’s judgement being affected by conscious or unconscious bias.

As the AG’s input may be sought on reform of defamation law and on bills affecting financial institutions, his representing while AG, for any extended period of time, present or former directors of media companies or any financial institution may be a cause of concern. As his position as AG facilitates his substantially influencing judicial appointments, there could be a risk when he engages in private litigation, litigants on the opposite side may fear unconscious bias could influence the outcome of proceedings to their detriment.

The separation of powers and the rule of law is a foundation stone of our constitutional democracy. The constitution does not address the perceptions of conflict of interest or bias that can result from an AG maintaining a private practice. It is an issue that can be easily addressed by legislation requiring that he or she shall, as Attorney General, be a full-time officer of the State. The need for such legislation is now clear.’ [More at link below]

Alan Shatter: Attorney General should not maintain a private legal practice (Irish Times)

Previously: Power Of Attorney

RollingNews

Attorney General Paul Gallagher

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

Attorney General Paul Gallagher acted in a private capacity for former Independent News & Media (INM) directors in a hearing with High Court inspectors, days before the Government said his private client work as a barrister had ceased.

Informed sources said Mr Gallagher, a senior counsel who had Government permission to work privately, was known in legal circles to have participated in a very recent cross-examination of a witness before the inspectors who are inquiring into INM’s affairs. The inspectors have been conducting hearings in private, sometimes on a Saturday to facilitate witnesses.

….The Government said last Thursday that Mr Gallagher had “no continuing private professional obligations” but did not say when such obligations ceased. An authoritative source, who had said the previous day that Mr Gallagher’s work for the former INM directors was continuing, said after the Government statement that such work had stopped, but did not say when or why.

…The inspectors were appointed by the High Court to carry out a company law inquiry into INM on foot of a request from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the State’s business law enforcer.

Mr Gallagher’s work in a private capacity for former INM directors has led to Opposition claims of a conflict of interest because the Attorney General is the Government’s legal adviser and the State’s chief law officer.

Good times.

Call for answers on Attorney General’s private work grows louder (Irish Times)

Previously: Nixer

RollingNews

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ:

Social Democrat co-leader Róisín Shortall described the fact that the Attorney General was carrying out private legal work as a “conflict of interest”, adding it was “just stunning and multi-layered“.

She contended that Mr Gallagher could not “take off his hat as Attorney General” and then act has a different persona. She asked: “On what planet was it felt appropriate to do so?”

Deputy Shortall said the situation was “totally inappropriate”, “bizarre” and “quite extraordinary”.

Mr Varadkar said that Mr Gallagher is a “man of the highest integrity” and he was “absolutely certain” that the Attorney General would be “very careful” to avoid any perception of any conflict of interest.

AG ‘finishing out’ number of prior cases – Tánaiste (RTÉ)

Earlier…

Attorney General Paul Gallagher speaking to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee at Dublin Castle in July

This morning.

Via The Irish Times:

The Attorney General is acting in a private capacity for former directors of Independent News & Media in their dealings with High Court inspectors who are investigating the company’s affairs.

….Following questions on Wednesday from The Irish Times, it emerged that the Attorney General, Paul Gallagher, was granted permission by the Government to deal with a number of outstanding cases after his appointment.

Asked about Mr Gallagher’s continuing work on the INM case, the Government’s spokesman said: “Prior to his appointment in June 2020, the Attorney General disclosed that he had a few existing litigation commitments to complete and received the Government’s permission.”

Mr Gallagher is understood to be acting for a number of former directors in INM including one, Dr Len O’Hagan, who remains on the board of Mediahuis Ireland [current owners].

Audacious, in fairness.

AG aiding former INM directors in private capacity with High Court (Irish Times)

RollingNews

Attorney General Paul Gallagher speaking to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee outside a Cabinet Meeting in Dublin Castle yesterday

This morning.

The Attorney General who advised the Government against a rent hike freeze is also a landlord, the Irish Mirror has learned.

The AG is required to disclose to the Taoiseach interests which could “materially influence you in or in relation to the performance of your official functions”.

Via The Irish Mirror:

Paul Gallagher is listed on the Residential Tenancies Board register as the owner of a five- bedroom house in Milltown, Dublin, along with his wife…

This is separate from the family home, which is located in leafy Ballsbridge, and another property that Mr Gallagher owns in Kerry.

A spokesman for the Attorney General told the Irish Mirror: “The matter was fully disclosed to the Taoiseach and the Cabinet.”

Attorney General who advised Government against rent hike freeze is also landlord (Ferghal Blaney, The Irish Mirror)

Rollingnews