Opponent in last-ditch bid to halt Seanad poll

The Clerk of the Seanad has been urged to withdraw the name of Fine Gael candidate John McNulty from the nomination papers for the forthcoming by-election to fill a vacant seat in the Upper House.

Independent candidate Gerard Craughwell wrote to Deirdre Lane last night saying Mr McNulty is “no longer eligible” to stand as a candidate for the Seanad’s Cultural Panel.

Mr Craughwell’s last-ditch attempt to halt the election comes as 226 TDs and senators are due to begin casting their ballots today to elect Deirdre Clune’s replacement.

They have until October 10 to make their decision and Fine Gael candidate Mr McNulty is a certainty to win, with Labour supporting him despite objections from many of its members.

A set of rules laid down in the 1940s states that members of the Seanad must represent various interest groups from farmers to unions to the arts on what are known as panels.

The Seanad Act 1947 sets out that the Education Panel, where the current vacancy is, must include persons who have “knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services namely the national language and culture, literature, art, education, and such professional interests as may be defined by law for the purpose of this panel.”

In his nomination papers, Mr McNulty described himself as “businessman, board member of the Irish Museum of Modern Art”. His statement of qualification said: “Knowledge and practical experience of national language and culture and art.”

The rubber-stamping of the nominations took place in front of High Court Judge Paul McDermott in a committee room of Leinster House on Monday.

Mr Craughwell — a former president of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland — objected to Mr McNulty’s nomination on the basis that he did not meet the qualifying experience.

He withdrew this objection when he learnt Mr McNulty was on the board of IMMA, but he did not realise at the time that the appointment had been made just days earlier.

Mr Craughwell made a final appeal last night after Mr McNulty’s announcement that he was quitting the board of the contemporary art gallery.

He made the decision “in accordance with IMMA’s internal rules which preclude me from being a board member and contesting an election at the same time”.

He now wants Ms Lane to revert to the judge on the matter.