Róisín Shortall, the co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called for Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, to explain his role in the Maurice McCabe email affair. Speaking today after Leaders’ Questions, Deputy Shortall said;
“There is an understandable focus on the Tánaiste’s role in all this. However, it is becoming clearer and clearer that the current Minister for Justice also has serious questions to answer.”
“We are now being told that the email on the Gardaí’s legal strategy was uncovered by the Department of Justice on the 9th of November. If this is the case, then why did it take till the 13th for this email to reach the Minister, and why did he then sit by while the Taoiseach told the Dáil incorrect information not once but twice.”
“Given that the Minister found the time to put out a press release accusing TDs of undermining the Disclosures Tribunal by asking questions on the 13th, and was present in the Chamber when the Taoiseach spoke on the 14th and 15th, it seems inconceivable that he would not have updated his party leader”, concluded Deputy Shortall.
ENDS
23 November 2017