Kenny denies all blame for Seanad ‘stroke’

The Taoiseach has moved to contain the political fallout from the botched handling of the Seanad by-election after coming under sustained criticism from the Fine Gael backbenches.

Enda Kenny distanced himself from the decision to appoint Fine Gael’s Seanad nominee to the board of a national art gallery, saying it was the responsibility of his arts minister, Heather Humphreys.

He was speaking after Waterford TD John Deasy said people are “disgusted” with how Fine Gael is being run and complained of a “destructive atmosphere” in the parliamentary party.

He said talent in Fine Gael was being overlooked and people were promoted “on the basis that they can grovel to the Taoiseach long enough and can read a script”.

Mr Kenny shrugged off the criticism, saying: “I’ve heard many comments from John over the years and nothing changes.”

The Taoiseach said he respected the work effort of all his ministers and their “endeavours” in difficult times. “I’ve nothing but respect for what they do,” he said.

Speaking on his visit to the National Ploughing Championships, Mr Kenny said it was his responsibility, as party leader, to nominate John McNulty to fill the Seanad seat left vacant by the election of Deirdre Clune as an MEP.

However, he laid responsibility for the Donegal businessman’s appointment to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art firmly at the door of Arts Minister Heather Humphreys.

Mr Kenny insisted he did not order the appointment of Mr McNulty to the high-profile position on the board of the art gallery — which was seen as a “stroke” to boost his credentials for the Seanad’s cultural panel.

“Ministers are free to make nominations to particular boards,” Mr Kenny said, insisting he did not know if the arts minister was aware Mr McNulty was in line for a Seanad nomination when she made the appointment.

“We have a system whereby if ministers are making appointments to the chairs of board the minister makes the nomination to Cabinet.

“Obviously, there are thousands of positions that are required to be filled and we have encouraged people to apply in a particular way for that.”

The Labour Party said it was not made aware that Mr McNulty was being appointed to the gallery board, but that these positions do not always necessarily have to be approved at cabinet.

Mr McNulty said he would proceed with plans to contest the Seanad election but will quit the board “in accordance with IMMA’s rules, which preclude me from being a board member and contesting an election at the same time”.

An Independent candidate for the position, Gerard Craughwell, believes Mr McNulty is “no longer eligible” for the cultural panel because he is not now a director in the gallery.

He has written to the clerk of the Seanad, Deirdre Lane, saying the Fine Gael candidate’s name should be removed from the ballot.

Meanwhile, Mr Deasy said dissatisfaction with the Taoiseach was about much more than the way the nomination was handled.

“The parliamentary party is very happy with the way Michael Noonan is running the economy” he told RTÉ Radio. “I think people are becoming disgusted with the way Fine Gael is being run.”

He said “an element of insecurity, pettiness has grown into the party leadership and people are getting sick of it”.

“It is an atmosphere of total non-criticism of the Taoiseach, who likes to give him mobile phone number out to the world, but doesn’t really engage or entertain criticism,” he said.