TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has defended a Donegal businessman on his appointment to a semi-state museums board so he can run for a seat in the Seanad.
John McNulty has been at the centre of a political storm all week.
“It is the right of the leader of the day to decide who is nominated. I have to decide who should be nominated. I have to verify all the nominations of all the candidates for General Elections and for the Seanad. The process is one Fine Gael has always followed,” said Mr Kenny on a trip to America.
Mr Kenny added: “I hope that John McNulty will prove to be an outstanding Senator. He is a young man with considerable energy and potential. He is involved in a lot of different activities in an area that needs every help it can get. Where obviously rural Ireland needs every assistance it can get.”
Mr Kenny also rejected an argument the appointment should have been given to a woman.
“Well I saw some commentary about this about gender balance. The two candidates in the Dail by elections, Cait Keane and Maura Hopkins, speak for themselves and are well able to speak for themselves and hopefully will win those elections,” he said.
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