Fine Gael members accuse leader of stroke politics

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has faced criticisms from within his own party that the appointment of Máire Whelan was an act of stroke politics.

The appointment of the former attorney general to the Court of Appeal dominated much of the Dáil proceedings yesterday and was brought up at a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party last night with one member stating he was “deeply unconformable” with the nomination.

Mr Varadkar was also challenged on whether he was giving preferential treatment to those who supported him in the Fine Gael leadership race.