TD: Kenny changing story over Seanad nomination

A Fine Gael TD has accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny of changing his story over the Seanad nomination affair.

Seán Conlan made the claim as Mr Kenny admitted the controversy surrounding the nomination of John McNulty had not been his “finest hour”.

Cavan-Monaghan TD Mr Conlan accused Mr Kenny of changing his story regarding who was responsible for appointing Mr McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, just days before he was nominated to stand for the Seanad.

“I think what the Taoiseach has said makes matters worse,” Mr Conlan told RTÉ. “He [Mr Kenny] said... the minister for arts was fully responsible for Mr McNulty’s appointment to the board, now... he is giving a different version of events saying he was fully responsible for Mr McNulty’s appointment to the board and for his appointment to the Seanad.”

Mr Kenny admitted he made mistakes, saying: “Mr McNulty is an innocent person in this. I wouldn’t say it was my finest hour and I take full responsibility for this having evolved to where people might imagine it is.”

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin seized on this saying: “What exactly is he [Mr Kenny] apologising for?

“Is the Taoiseach now admitting that he instructed [Ms] Humphreys to appoint Mr McNulty in support of his Seanad candidacy? This goes to the heart of the scandal and requires a full statement in Dáil Éireann from the Taoiseach out-lining the entire sequence of events from the beginning to the end of this shabby affair.”