Arts Minister Heather Humphreys has come under more pressure to explain how she appointed John McNulty to a cultural post days before he was named as Fine Gael candidate for a Seanad vacancy.

Donegal businessman John McNulty is expected to take up his Seanad seat next week — on the same day Michael Noonan will deliver his budget to the Dáil.

The Taoiseach has dismissed claims of "stroke politics" over the nomination of Fine Gael’s candidate for the Seanad by-election, insisting it is his "right as leader of the day" who to choose to fill the seat.