Former Attorney General Maire Whelan has been appointed by President Michael D Higgins to the Court of Appeal despite the raging controversy over the “stroke” appointment, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

Latest: The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says he wishes his first few days in office had not been overshadowed by controversy over the appointment of the Attorney General as a judge.

The Taoiseach and Shane Ross have clashed over the controversial appointment of Máire Whelan to the Court of Appeal as the Government comes under pressure to restart the process.

Opposition parties have demanded that the Government revoke Máire Whelan’s appointment to the Court of Appeal and begin the process again.

Former Attorney General Máire Whelan remained at the Cabinet table as ministers discussed her appointment to the Court of Appeal, the Irish Examiner has learned.

Attacks in recent days by opposition TDs on the Attorney General Máire Whelan have been “distasteful”, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald told the Dáil last night.

The Government’s chief lawyer, Attorney General Máire Whelan, was accused of being “panicked, alarmist, and over-reactive” when she raised concerns over the recording of phone calls in Garda stations, the Dáil heard yesterday.

Labour has insisted attorney general Máire Whelan must not be made a “scapegoat” for the Fennelly report crisis.

The apparent contradiction in her evidence to the commission adds an extra layer of questions over the phone tapping issue and alleged failures of communication that meant garda commissioner Martin Callinan and Justice Minister Alan Shatter were unaware of the scale and seriousness of what had taken place.