Máire Whelan not in same league as other judicial appointments, says Micheál Martin

Micheál Martin has made a surprising and highly personal attack on Máire Whelan in the Dáil, claiming she is no match to some previous judicial appointments.

Challenging Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Ms Whelan’s appointment to the Court of Appeal, the Fianna Fáil leader said: “Máire Whelan is no Frank Clarke, is no Adrian Hardiman, and is no Donal O’Donnell.”

During a heated leader’s questions, he went on to say Mr Varadkar “strains credibility” by putting Ms Whelan in the “same league” as the judges after the Taoiseach named a number of individuals who had been appointed in a similar manner.