Stroke politics claims at museum appointment denied

The Government has denied accusations of "stroke politics" in the appointment of its candidate for a forthcoming Seanad by-election to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Heather Humphreys, the arts minister, said that 37-year-old John McNulty, a convenience store owner from Donegal, is appropriately qualified to take up the position as a director of the contemporary art gallery.

She was forced to come before the Upper House to answer questions about the appointment which was made six days before Mr McNulty was nominated as Fine Gael’s candidate to take a vacant seat on the cultural panel of the Seanad.

Fianna Fáil claimed the appointment was made in order to satisfy legal requirements that senators have backgrounds relevant to the panels they join.

“This appointment was part of an electoral ploy,” said Senator Thomas Byrne. “Our foremost museum for modern art is being used to railroad through a candidate for the Seanad by-election. It does severe damage to the Seanad and it does severe damage to the IMMA.”

The Labour leader in the Seanad, Ivana Bacik, said she had “serious concerns” about the “manner and timing of the recent board appointment”.

Fiach MacConghail, the Independent senator and director of The Abbey Theatre, said the appointment was “disappointing” and that Mr McNulty was not qualified for the board of a gallery for contemporary art which has an international reputation.

The former Fine Gael and now Independent senator, Fidelma Healy Eames, said it was the “greatest political stroke in Irish politics in recent times”.

Ms Humphreys said that Mr McNulty brings “considerable business experience” to the IMMA board and has “a track record in promoting culture, GAA, local heritage and the Irish language”.

She said she has “absolutely no role to play” in choosing Fine Gael candidates for the Seanad.