Further pressure on Humphreys

Arts Minister Heather Humphreys has come under more pressure to explain how she appointed John McNulty to a cultural post days before he was named as Fine Gael candidate for a Seanad vacancy.

The affair caused uproar as Mr McNulty first quit the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Arts after less than two weeks, then asked people not to vote him into the Seanad.

Now, it has emerged that Arts Department officials were asked to find vacancies on cultural boards two days before Mr McNulty was appointed to Imma.

Fianna Fáil arts spokesperson Seán Ó Fearghaíl demanded Ms Humphreys clear up the matter as he claimed documents released under freedom of information showed the appointment was made for party political purposes.

“This timescale puts further strain on the explanation offered by Minister Humphries that Mr McNulty was offered the role based on his business experience and involvement in local cultural projects,” said Mr Ó Fearghaíl.

“It is becoming clearer as more evidence emerges that Minister Humphries was bowing to pressure to appoint Mr McNulty to an arts board to lend credibility to his nomination for the Seanad’s cultural and educational panel.