The Attorney General claims a legal action against Super Junior Ministers attending cabinet meetings is, “a political challenge to the integrity of the government.”
On foot of a case brought by Kerry Sinn Féin TD, Pa Daly, the High Court is hearing submissions on whether the practice should be allowed to continue.
For the past three decades, so-called Super Junior Ministers have attended and participated in government meetings.
Pa Daly claims they’ve been doing so without constitutional authority, and the Sinn Féin TD believes the practice is, “deeply problematic.”
While his side aren’t taking issue with previous government decisions made in such a way, they’ve raised a concern that if they are right, there is a “real danger,” when it comes to a litigant bringing such an action.
On the other side, the Attorney General, Rossa Fanning SC, insists there has been no constitutional breach, let alone any suggestion of a clear disregard of one – which, he claims, is the correct test to be applied in case like this.
In his final submissions today, Mr Fanning SC, said there was no way to characterise these proceedings as anything other than a “political challenge” by an opposition TD.
