LABOUR HAS DENIED CLAIMS OF CRONYISM AFTER THE DAUGHTER OF TANAISTE EAMON GILMORE WAS ASKED TO REPRESENT THE STATE IN A LEGAL CASE BEING TAKEN BY PERSONS WITH CONCERNS OVER THE SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE OF THE CORRIB GAS PIPELINE ROUTE.

28 YEAR OLD BARRISTER GRAINNE GILMORE WAS ASKED BY THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BE PART OF A LEGAL TEAM IN A HIGH COURT CASE TAKEN BY INDIVIDUALS INSISTING THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GAS PIPELINE COMPLIES WITH ALL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.

THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL, MARIE WHELAN, WAS APPOINTED BY THE LABOUR EARLIER THIS MONTH.

BUT THE PARTY HAS DENIED ALLEGATIONS OF A COSY RELATIONSHIP, POINTING OUT THAT MS GILMORE TURNED DOWN THE OFFER TO WORK FOR THE NEW AG AND HAD CARRIED OUT WORK FOR A PREVIOUS AG UNDER THE FIANNA FAIL-LED GOVERNMENT.

IT IS UNDERSTOOD MS GILMORE, A BARRISTER SPECIALISING IN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, WORKED FOR THE FORMER AG ON "SEVERAL OCCASIONS" WHEN HER FATHER WAS ON THE OPPOSITION BENCHES.