Varadkar defends Kenny over comments on FF’s justice spokesman

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has defended Taoiseach Enda Kenny against criticism from Fianna Fáil that he had overreacted when he criticised Fianna Fail Justice spokesman, Niall Collins, for writing to a court about a man facing sentencing for drug dealing.

This morning Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness came to Mr Collins’s defence and accused Mr Kenny of going over the top in his reaction to Mr Collins’s letter. “To start jumping up and down about resigning is a bit much when there’s so much else going on,” he said.

But this afternoon, Mr Varadkar came to Mr Kenny’s defence, saying that he believed Mr Collins should have known better as Fianna Fail spokesman on justice than to involve himself in an ongoing case where a person was facing sentence.

“I think if the shoe was on the other foot, I can only imagine John McGuinness’s over reaction.I think it does make it worse the fact that Niall Collins is spokesman for justice - he knows about the courts, he knows how they work and he should have known better,” he said.

Speaking in Cork, Mr Varadkar said he didn’t think that legislation was required to prevent TDs and senators involving themselves in court cases in this fashion as they should already be well aware of the separation of powers.

“I don’t think legisltation should be necessary. I think at this stage TDs should know what is appropriate and what isn’t. It’s not the first time it’s happened but I don’t think TDs should need tutorials about the separation of powers between the courts and legislature, “ he said.

Asked about former minister for justice Alan Shatter's criticism of the Guerin report and the failure of senior counsel Sean Guerin to interview him, Mr Varadkar said he could understand Mr Shatter's position but it was time for the Government to move on.

“I can understand where he’s coming from in that he didn’t get the opportunity to give his side to Sean Guerin but really that’s all in the past and what we are doing now is trying to move on with the long overdue reforms in the Gardaí, GSOC and the Department of Justice.

"The focus now has to be on the establishment of the independent garda authority, the recruitment of a new garda commissioner and reform of the Department of Justice and the kinds of things that (Minister for Justice) Frances Fitzgerald is doing," he said.