Taoiseach dismisses ‘stroke’ claims

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.

Enda Kenny was speaking during a visit to the US while his backbench TDs rounded on him back home over how the selection process was handled.

John McNulty — a 37-year-old shop manager from Donegal — was selected in what was described as a “last-minute switch” to fill the Seanad seat left vacant by the election of Deirdre Clune to the European Parliament.