McNulty agrees to resign if elected

Fine Gael’s Seanad by-election candidate John McNulty was set to immediately resign if he pulls off a shock victory today. 

His resignation, if he is elected, would trigger a second by-election that would almost certainly result in a Government victory, restoring their position in the upper house.

A significant number of Fine Gael Oireachtas members had voted for the party’s nominee for a Seanad vacancy despite his plea not to be supported. Earlier, chairman of the Oireachtas health committee Jerry Buttimer said: “If he does win, he should resign, yes.”

Donegal TD Dinny McGinley said he voted for Mr McNulty and knew many other TDs and senators had done so as well. The backing came even though Mr McNulty urged Oireachtas members not to support him.

Earlier, Jobs Minister Richard Bruton said that it would be up to Mr McNulty to decide whether to resign or not should he top the poll: “That’s a matter for him. He has expressed a very clear expression that people should not vote for him. I have respected that.”

Other Fine Gael TDs insisted that Mr McNulty would have no option but to quit in such circumstances.