Ministers split over McNulty vote

Donegal businessman John McNulty is expected to take up his Seanad seat next week — on the same day Michael Noonan will deliver his budget to the Dáil.

Senior ministers are split on whether or not Coalition TDs and senators should proceed to vote for Mr McNulty, who announced last week that he was no longer seeking the seat. However, sources from both Fine Gael and Labour expect him to be elected.

Voting will close this Friday and the result will be known later that day. If elected, Mr McNulty will automatically be deemed a senator and will have to go through the official role call procedure before making any announcement on whether or not to resign his seat.