There was no conflict of interest in the Attorney General continuing private work after his appointment, according to the Taoiseach.

It has emerged in recent days that Attorney General Paul Gallagher acted in a private capacity for the former Independent News & Media (INM) directors in a hearing with High Court inspectors while also acting as the Government’s legal advisor.

The inspectors were appointed by the High Court at the request of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the State’s business law enforcer.

Opposition TDs have labelled it “grossly inappropriate” for Mr Gallagher to act in the cases while also carrying out his State duties.

Speaking at the launch of the National Development Plan this afternoon, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there was no conflict of interest.

“There couldn’t be any conflict of interest,” he said. “There wasn’t in any of those three cases and the convention is, in the context of any attorney general who may have been involved in a case prior to becoming attorney general, the attorney general alerts Cabinet to that and doesn’t actually give advice in relation to a matter that might involve a party.”

He said Mr Gallagher continued on in the cases with the Government’s full knowledge.

“I do of course have full confidence in the Attorney General and I asked the Attorney General to serve because of his ability, because of work ethic and because of his integrity,” he said.

“He did indicate that he wanted to finish out three professional obligations that he had in respect of three cases.”

Mr Martin said one of the three cases related to the recapitalisation of Irish Permanent, another was a commercial case which finished up last February, and the last was the INM case.

He said Mr Gallagher finished out the INM case two weeks ago.

Reporting from Sean Defoe