Government accused of electoral ploy

THE Government was accused of using an appointment to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) as a "electoral ploy" to "railroad through" its nomination for a forthcoming Seanad by-election.

The Arts Minister, Heather Humphreys, was forced to appear before the Seanad this evening to explain why John McNulty was appointed to the board of the art gallery.

The shop and petrol station owner from Donegal was given the position, without having to apply for it, six days before he was nominated as Fine Gael’s candidate to take a vacant seat on the Cultural panel of the Seanad.