Michael D Higgins was not pushed on Máire Whelan posting: Leo Varadkar

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has rejected claims that President Michael D Higgins was pushed to rush the promotion of the former attorney general to the Court of Appeal, as rows erupted in the Dáil over the move.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is also facing internal party criticism after launching a personalised attack on Máire Whelan, who has been appointed to the top court.

It also emerged, during a turbulent first few days for Mr Varadkar, that the new Taoiseach has now ordered a “fatwa” — as one minister described it — against government business leaking to the media.